March-5 topics

From Pancake Marathon:

As me seeing that I do have a choice given to me that those before me have not had, well, I mean the past self of my self: as they are needing healing and so that is why I must keep putting in the work and doing the next right thing; so that in that, I will be able to help myself/heal my hurt and if I is not good for me then I is not good for anyone else. As that is what I get from the Tradition 5 (group) of what Tradition 1 is about Unity: for ultimately I'm finding Unity Within Myself.

But For The Grace Of God i know that Easy does it but do it and doing it sober is the hug that I is able to give when in the past I gave hurt, for the steps to give kisses; as it's the faith that I have now due to the god that I have: helping me be able to Cultivate an attitude of gratitude and to think this time.

"But just how, in these circumstances, does a fellow 'take it easy?' That's what I want to know." TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 26
I was never known for my patience. How many times have I asked,
"Why should I wait, when I can have it all right now?" Indeed, when I was first presented the Twelve Steps, I was like the proverbial "kid in a candy store." I couldn't wait to get to Step Twelve; it was surely just a few months' work, or so I thought! I realize now that living the Twelve Steps of A.A. is a lifelong undertaking.

"When a need arises for us to admit our powerlessness, we may first look for ways to exert power against it. After exhausting these ways, we begin sharing with others and find hope." Basic Text, p. 79
We've sometimes heard it said in our meetings that "rude awakenings lead to spiritual awakenings." What kind of rude awakenings do we have in recovery? Such an awakening might occur when some undesirable bit of our behavior that we thought safely hidden away is suddenly revealed for all the world to see. Or our sponsor might provoke such an awakening by informing us that, just like everyone else, we have to work the steps if we expect to stay clean and recover.
Most of us hate to have our covers pulled; we don't like being laid naked in full view. The experience delivers a strong dose of humility. Our first reaction to such a disclosure is usually shock and anger, yet we recognize the truth when we hear it. What we are having is a rude awakening.
Such awakenings often disclose barriers that block us from making spiritual progress in our recovery. Once those barriers are exposed, we can work the steps to begin removing them from our lives. We can begin experiencing the healing and serenity which are the preludes to a renewed awakening of the spirit.
Just for today: I will recognize the rude awakenings I have as opportunities to grow toward spiritual awakening.