The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
"In the past, we made simple situations into problems; we made mountains out of molehills."Basic Text, p. 87
Making mountains out of molehills seems to be our specialty. Have you heard it said that to an addict, a flat tire is a traumatic event? Or how about those of us who forget all pretense of principle when confronted with a bad driver? And what about that can opener that won't work—you know, the one you just threw out the second story window? We can relate when we hear others share, "God, grant me patience right now!"No, it's not the major setbacks that drive us to distraction. The big things—divorce, death, serious illness, the loss of a job—will throw us, but we survive them. We've learned from experience that we must reach out to our Higher Power and others to make it through life's major crises. It's the small things, the constant day-to-day challenges of living life without the use of drugs, that seem to affect most addicts most strongly in recovery.When the little things get to us, the Serenity Prayer can help us regain our perspective. We can all remember that "turning over" these small matters to the care of our Higher Power results in peace of mind and a refreshed perspective on life.Just for today: I will work on patience. I will try to keep from blowing things out of proportion, and walk with my Higher Power through my day.
>>>>rosie>>>>>oh MAN can i relate to this.....big things??? i yell for help, get through SOMEhow.......but the little things?? only a couple of months ago, i had this "hp" printer/fax/scanner that kept refusing to print becuz it said "change cartridges" over and over...AFTER i changed the cartridges......i got sick of it, and blew UP.....i grabbed it up and walked to the front door of my house, opened the front door and i walked out into the driveway and i threw the thing as high up in the air as i could and watched as it went "smack" on the driveway, and smashed into a bunch of little pieces.......i felt sort of satisfied that i "killed it" than step 4 kicked in and i felt foolish as hell.....like "where WERE U 12 steps when i needed u???"......i felt stupid, immature, than i started the slogans....easy does it.....how important WAS it??? ....and the big one "progress over perfection"... after a lot of self talk about how i was running the show, NOT my i/c who still cannot STAND for things to not go her way, i was able to get myself balanced.......so i had to replace it and this time i bought one of those "if it messes up, u can come HERE and trade it in" warantees......so i did make amends, but had to laugh at the foolishness of it......how many small and even big gadgets have i sent to a very violent death cuz they wouldn't work!!! that is improving, but i need continuous work in that area......i just hate for some inanimate object or ANYthing for that matter to "get the best of me".....its like " u r going to WORK or u r going to DIE".....
>>>>>yep it is the SMALL, nickel dime crap that will throw me in a state.......when i was drinking/ bingeing, i could get past the stuff...numb my feelings, but now??? sober??? wow!!! i notice that the S prayer and slogans WORK if i USE them.....and yeah, i do believe with my addictive personality ( i could not escape being addictive with all the horror i went through and the resulting "shutting down" my feelings) until i do ALL my inner child pain work which i am doing...and thawing out ALL the old pain/ anger/ grief, i guess i am going to have trouble with and need my hp MORE for my addictions--- bingeing on food--- needing to control----forcing my will on events----fantasizing...i mean , really, this "daily" is reminding me that i really need to keep up my "God work" and to surrender my DAY on a DAILY basis to my hp and keep workin on the program AND walk w/ my HP throught the ENTIRE day......thanks, rosie
Boy, can I relate! Only I used to hurt myself. I had been doing really well on that front too but over the weekend, had some mental slips & was fantasizing about escaping... wake p call from God ~ I get involved in a car accident ~ the other vehicle I swerved, flew the scen, so there I am, hittin' the curb, air bags broke my wind screen, beat me up pretty good.
Back to surrenderring & gratitude, didn't even get a ticket for my registration being 5 months late... once again, Angels were there!
Well, HP got my attention, not going to focus on the future, it was depressing & overwhelming me... just for ODAT, I need to be resting for a few days.
I can't say I've ever "killed" any elctronics b4 but it does kinda sound like fun ~ better than hurting one's self anyway... well, I guess it's all the same difference. > big sigh< time for me to start another gratitude list.
Love ya ((((((((((((((Rosie)))))))))))) thanks for sharing, -K
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Light, Love, Peace, Blessings & Healing to Us All. God's Will Be Done. Amen.
Great post. I don't have such a problem with patience (I taught 2-5 year olds. You've GOTTA have patience for that!!!) But my A certainly goes through that. Last night he was freaking out because there was nothing on TV. He was ranting and raving. At one point I chuckled a bit and said, "you sure take that rather personally..." and he thought for a second and realized he was being a little silly. He did beat up a computer though when it wouldn't work. (Now we have all wanted to do that, but some of us can manage not to.) The end result? He hasn't had a computer in over a year. He complains about this nonstop. I never remind him of WHY. he knows.
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**Everyone is doing the best they can from day to day**
Oh, fantastic post! Please don't be offended but I couldn't stop laughing The Adventure of the Miscreant Printer and its Untimely Demise! Classic. I related so much as only a few days ago I felt the same overwhelming compulsion; with, funnily enough, a "hp" printer! (By the way, the cartridge DID actually need to be changed.) I managed to resist the desire (barely) and I honestly believe it was NOT because I realised how daft it would be but because I couldn't afford to replace it! I also would've felt really stupid trying to explain to my A why his printer was now in gadget-heaven!! Not sure whether knowing about those warranties is dangerous knowledge in my head
I'm not an A but I grew up with and learned all the 'isms'. I am much more prone to fits of temper and violent outbursts than my A ever was/is/or likely to be! Fortunately, I now have a program and learned these weren't "normal" responses and generally find more constructive ways to vent my anger/frustration. (I've been told to feel them is quite healthy and normal as long as I express them appropriately.) I'm happy to say that until the incident I've referred to I haven't felt the desire for a few years now so I know it works if you work it. A timely reminder, Thank You.
The Adventure of the Miscreant Printer and its Untimely Demise! Classic. I related so much as only a few days ago I felt the same overwhelming compulsion; with, funnily enough, a "hp" printer! (By the way, the cartridge DID actually need to be changed.) I managed to resist the desire (barely) and I honestly believe it was NOT because I realised how daft it would be but because I couldn't afford to replace it! I also would've felt really stupid trying to explain to my A why his printer was now in gadget-heaven!! 
Not sure whether knowing about those warranties is dangerous knowledge in my head 
