A Twelve Step Refresher

http://www.12step.org/steps/index.php ^

[cyborg]

The 12 Steps

We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable

Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves

Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs

Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character

Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings

Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all

Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others

Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs

[Graybeard58]

About 23 years ago I attended an AA meeting with my sponsor who was Hispanic and I knew the meeting would be in Spanish but I was pretty sure I could keep up with my hafass Spanish speaking ability.

They asked me to read the 12 steps and I did. - They didn't even laugh at me either.

23 years - One day at a time

Graybeard58

[cyborg]

Congrats on the twenty three years of sobriety... It's real late but I felt that someone out there needed to be reminded that there is time proven system of dealing with an addiction.

[codyjacksmom]

Congrats on the clean time GB58...I'm just about to 16 months now, and haven't felt better mentally in my life.

One day at a time is the only way to live.

[cyborg]

I thought I posted this in general chat. Please correct. thanks.

[cyborg]

We only have today. Yesterday is the past and tomorrow isn't here yet. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to real mental and spiritual clarity in the future myself. Good night.

[Graybeard58]

Congrats on your 16 months. The first 16 months are the hardest - Life is a bowl of cherries after that!

"W" is in the white house.

I'm sober in my house

aint life sweet?

cyborg, the way I heard it is, if you have one foot in yesterday and one foot in tomorrow you will s*** all over today.

[codyjacksmom]

It is a truly awesome gift from God...you only need to be willing to accept it, and work hard. Sleep well.

[DoughtyOne]

Good for you.

[cyborg]

Life is good among FRiends, a good president in charge, and breath in my lungs still. Good night.

[South40]

It's real late but I felt that someone out there needed to be reminded that there is time proven system of dealing with an addiction.

What about an addiction to FR? ;-P

[this_ol_patriot]

It took some time for me to "get it." It wasn't till I hit my bottom that I finally said "ok my way isn't working let's try this". When I quit analsying, quit trying to figure out what this was about and what they were trying to do to me, heh heh, I finally "got it".

What to say to those with a desire to quit drinking, do these steps, just do them, don't question them or worry about being converted to something, the ONLY thing that will happen is you'll quit drinking because by chance or by inspiration Bill W. and Dr. Bob figured out a way to quit drinking that works.

It's been ten sober years now and those 12 steps, AA and my fellow alcoholics saved my life.

[codyjacksmom]

"What about an addiction to FR? ;-P"

I'm not sure anyone really wants a cure for FR addiction. LOL

[frei_staat]

Good post.

Through the Program of AA, the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous and people like you helping me - I haven't found it necessary to take a drink since 26 Sep 81.

Suddenly realizing that God is doing for me...what I cannot do for myself.

One day at a time and easy does it :)

[GeronL]

I'm gonna try and see if this works for being fat and lazy

[Graybeard58]

Hey old timer. 8 July '81 here.

Life is good.

[codyjacksmom]

"cyborg, the way I heard it is, if you have one foot in yesterday and one foot in tomorrow you will s*** all over today."

Never heard it put that way before, but it is so very true. It's the most amazing feeling in the world to be able to think and feel after a lifetime of numbness. You nailed it on the head...life IS sweet.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Good post! ~~~ BTTT!!!

[larryjohnson]

will mail to son-11 yrs sober.

[stockpirate]

At one time in my life I believed that God didn't love me and would not help me. Well about 14 years ago I went to a place where they passed round a coin that said on it "One Day At a Time", and as each of the oldtimers (20 plus years each in the rooms) took the coin he prayed a silent pray and I cryed.

My life is different now, "Things that used to baffel me no longer do.

And God hears my prayers, as he always did, only now I believe he does.

[xcamel]

Congrats.. 19.5 years here [odat]

[NYpeanut]

thanks

[trebb]

Congrats - 16-1/2 years here. If you're ever in the Ocean Springs, MS area, look up The Little Yellow House group.

God Bless.

[Graybeard58]

My wife and I were in Ocean Springs about 6 months ago.

I remember Aunt Jenny's. Great cat fish dinner!

When we were in New Orleans for Mardi Gras we thought about going back to Ocean Springs for the cat fish but decided it was farther than we wanted to drive for dinner and New Orleans has some fine places to eat too..

[Smartaleck]

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Powerful words of wisdom regardless of ones circumstances.

[cyborg]

LOL! Without knowing you, you are just fine Geron hehehe.

[cyborg]

Thanks...I just felt inspired to post the twelve steps because there are a lot of people suffering who can be helped just as you have.

[cyborg]

keep it up... you're an inspiration to a lot of people.

[Crawdad]

Thanks to the Grace of God and the company I keep (including Free Republic), I'll have 6 years 06/01/05.

[GreenHornet]

Graybeard58:

Congratulations on 23 years of sobriety! Keep on doing what you're doing.

[cyborg]

Isn't God good? He really is :-) I hope you have a day off from work today to rest and relax.

[trebb]

Next time you're in the area, ask someone for directions to the bowling alley - we rent out a building behind it to hold meetings. We used to be in an actual little yellow house (hence the name of the group) but it was sold from under us. Always a good meeting and we love visitors!

Aunt Jenny's has long been a place to eat your fill of nice catfish - we try to get there a couple times a year (there's so many places to get good food that it can be hard to choose).

God Bless and hope to see you sometime.

[cyborg]

That's wonderful! I do credit FR for saving my life. It's nice to have FRiends.

[cyborg]

Have a good President's Day if you are off from work.

[stockpirate]

LOLWROTF---- :-)

I am a city boy and those days off used to be nice. But God in his great goodness to me, sent me to a country girl who loves horses. So we have about 18 TB's and six are in foal, so I am kept very busy 24/7. But it is a great life.

[stockpirate]

Oh. but thanks and I hope you have a nice day too!

[cyborg]

I had a good day, a good meeting. I got a coin for my first attendance. not sure it means, but I am very happy about it. I hope you had a fulfilling day as well.

[cyborg]

Just sensed someone needed to see the steps bump

[cyborg]

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.