Your Daily Reprieve 11.22.20

 

 

Your Daily Reprieve for Sunday November 22, 2020   From Waynesville, NC

The capacity to learn is a gift, the ability to learn is a skill, the willingness to learn is a choice. ~Brian Herbert   “When I was drinking, I was afraid I was not achieving my potential. Now that I’m sober, I worry that maybe I am.”    ~Grapevine: Grand Rapids, Mich., October 1981     Whatever happens to you, once you have hope, you will survive… ~Lailah Gifty Akita   To be tested is good.  The challenged life may be the best therapist.  -Gail Sheehy

Big Book Quote     "Some drinkers have excuses with which they are satisfied part of the time. But in their hearts they really do not know why they do it. Once this malady has a real hold, they are a baffled lot. There is the obsession that somehow, someday, they will beat the game. But they often suspect they are down for the count."   ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 23~

Daily Share!   AA Speaker of the Day     AL R. Huntsville, TX A Better Way Group Texarkana, AR   https://bit.ly/32niwJB   Loose Garment Nooner M-F 12:00 EST (NY) ID: 238 977 518 PW: 004 394   Saturday Morning 9AM EST (NY) Loose Garment Group ID: 630 312 898 PW: 364 433     Wee Willie’s Sobriety First Media AA CD’s Literature and tapes https://www.mediafire.com/sobrietyfirst

Celebrate Your Anniversary Here SHOW NEWCOMERS HOW IT WORKS!! Send your sober date to sober@yourdailyreprieve.com     SOBER DATE YOUR NAME YOUR LOCATION YEARS SOBER 6/10 (mo/day) Bob S Akron, OH 83   It will look like this : 6/10 Bob S. (Akron, OH).....85   November 2020 Miracles     11/1 Keli R. (Pasadena, CA)…..9 11/1 Kris F. (Rockport, MA)…..5 11/1 Trish H. (NJ)…..29 11/2 Liz L. (Bernardsville, NJ)…..13 11/2 Joyce C. (San Diego, CA./Loreto, Baja, México)…..10 11/3 Katy R. (Portland. OR)…..29 11/3 Brendan H. (Smithtown, NY)…..6 11/3 Marybeth F. (Bernardsville, NJ)…..6 11/4 Pat O’D. (Boston, MA)…..40 11/4 Ernie C. (Charlottetown)…..35 11/4 Lou L. (Smithtown, NY)…..24 11/5 Kent L. (Silverdale, WA)……35 11/5 Chrissy R-C. (Hilton Head, SC)…..2 11/5 Donna M. (Methuen, MA)…..14 11/6 Nancy M. (The Villages, FL)…..10 11/6 Shelley M. ()…..33 11/7 Harry D. (Hampstead, NH)…..29 11/7 Craig S. (Vero Beach, FL)…..15 11/7 Leslie W. (Mamaroneck, NY)…..14 11/8 Richard F. ()…..11 11/9 Jessie R. (Carmel, NY)…..14 11/9 Matt K. (Bernardsville, NJ)…..10 11/9 Richie D. (Marblehead, MA)…..5 11/10 Taylor W. (Tampa, FL)…..6 11/10 Russ S. (Palm City, FL)…..35 11/10 Neal C. ()…..5 11/10 Donna P. (Chelmsford, MA)…..19 11/11 H.T. K. ()…..12 11/11 Jay D. (Stuart, FL)…..39 11/12 Billy M. (Port Chester, NY)…..4 11/12 Ray G. (Canal Fulton, OH)…..8 11/12 Paula V. ()…..29 11/13 Joe J. (Ludlow, VT)…..15 11/13 Stan S. (Powhatan, VA)…..9 11/15 Francine F. (Bridgeport, CT)…..41 11/15 Ned W. (Portland, ME)…..35 11/15 Jamie G. (Seymour, CT)…..5 11/15 Jarryd K. (Bridgewater, NJ)…..4 11/16 Robert M. (Stuart, FL)…..36 11/17 Tray B. (Waynesville, NC)…..5 11/17 Dan K. (Astoria)…..11 11/18 Danny S. (Gainesville, GA)…..24 11/19 Tommy S. (Newport, RI)…..7 11/20 Jackie R. (N. Miami, FL)…..15 11/22 Chip B. (Destin, FL)…..33 11/22 Terry S. (Maui, HI)…..3 11/22 Teresa K-B. (St Pete Beach, FL)…..38 11/22 Brandi S. (Corpus Christi, TX)…..7 11/22 Anne T-F. (Madison, CT)…..45 11/23 Alan P. (West Palm Beach, FL)…..50 11/23 Colleen M. (Clayton, NC)…..3 11/23 Kyle G. (Boca Raton, FL)…..1 11/24 Peter V. (Kittery, ME)…..40 11/24 Tony booda (Mastic Beach, NY)…..18 11/24 Ray G. (Maine)…..52 11/24 Imogen B. (London, UK)…..24 11/25 Dermot G. (Maidstone, UK)…..7 11/25 Mark W. (Syracuse, NY)…..1 11/26 Pam B. (Summerfield, FL)…..36 11/28 Hendy H. (Islington, MA)…..47 11/28 Chuck Mc. (Charlotte, NC)…..2 11/28 Doug B. (Tequesta, FL)…..23 11/29 Deb M. (Bedford, MA)…..7 11/29 Skip P. (Mt. Laurel, NJ)…..24 11/29 Delano S. (Virgin Gorda, BVI)…..8 11/29 Bob W. (Concord, NH)…..26 11/30 Dave C. (Methuen, MA)…..23   1275 Total Years of Sobriety

12&12   Foreword This book deals with the "Twelve Steps" and the "Twelve Traditions" of Alcoholics Anonymous. It presents an explicit view of principles by which A.A. members recover and by which their Society functions. p. 15

Twenty-Four Hours   A.A. Thought For The Day I have got rid of most of my boredom. One of the hardest things that a new member of A.A. has to understand is how he can stay sober and not be bored. Drinking was always the answer to all kinds of boring people and boring situations. But once you have taken up the interest of A.A., once you have given it your time and enthusiasm, boredom should not be a problem to you. A new life opens up before you that can be always interesting. Sobriety should give you so many new interests in life that you shouldn't have time to be bored. Have I got rid of the fear of being bored? Meditation For The Day "If I have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." Charity means to care enough about your fellow man to really want to do something for him. A smile, a word of encouragement, a word of love, goes winged on its way, simple enough it may seem, while the mighty words of an orator fall on deaf ears. Use up the odd moments of your day in trying to do some little thing to cheer up your fellow man. Boredom comes from thinking too much about yourself. Prayer For The Day I pray that my day may be brightened by some little act of charity. I pray that I may try today to overcome the self-centeredness that makes me bored.

Daily Thought   ^*^*^*^*^ (\   ~~  /) (    \(AA)/    ) (_ /AA\ _) /AA\ ^*^*^*^*^ Pain "Though I still find it difficult to accept today's pain and anxiety with any great degree of serenity - as those more advanced in the spiritual life seem able to do - I can give thanks for present pain nevertheless. I find the willingness to do this by contemplating the lessons learned from past suffering - lessons which have led to the blessings I now enjoy. I can remember how the agonies of alcoholism, the pain of rebellion and thwarted pride, have often led me to God's grace, and so to a new freedom." Bill W., Grapevine, March 1962 c. 1967 AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 266 Thought to Consider . . . Joy isn't the absence of pain - it's the presence of God. *~*AACRONYMS*~* F A I L U R E Fearful, Arrogant, Insecure, Lonely, Uncertain, Resentful, Empty

Daily Reflection     ONLY TWO SINS . . . there are only two sins; the first is to interfere with the growth of another human being, and the second is to interfere with one's own growth. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 542   Happiness is such an elusive state. How often do my "prayers" for others involve "hidden" prayers for my own agenda? How often is my search for happiness a boulder in the path of growth for another, or even myself? Seeking growth through humility and acceptance brings things that appear to be anything but good, wholesome and vital. Yet in looking back, I can see that pain, struggles and setbacks have all contributed eventually to serenity through growth in the program. I ask my Higher Power to help me not cause another's lack of growth today—or my own.

Tips for Staying Sober During the Holidays   Staying sober can be difficult over the holidays. Calendars are jam-packed, routines are disrupted, and a lot of old emotions and triggers can be stirred up. If you’re going through a difficult time or you’ve lost a loved one, the holidays can bring up feelings of loneliness and depression, anger, anxiety and stress, or even a mix of all of them. To make matters worse, many events with friends, like Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve celebrations, seem to revolve around alcohol. The holidays don’t have to be a time for you to return to addiction though. With the right plans and supports in place, you can get through any triggers the holidays bring up, and stay sober. Read on for our most helpful tips for staying sober over the holidays.   Make a plan The first step to staying sober over the holidays is to make a plan of action before you find yourself in the midst of a battle with temptation. Know how long you’ll stay at an event, and plan what you’ll say if someone asks if you want a drink. Rehearse the lines out loud at home so you’ll know exactly how to respond. Even something simple like, “No thanks, I’m not thirsty” or, “No thanks, I brought my own drink,” can help.   Prioritize self-care Because the holidays can stir up so many negative emotions for people, remember to prioritize self-care and feeling good. What can you do to stay grounded and healthy, both physically and emotionally, over the holidays? Maybe you like to meditate or take a yoga class, or write in your journal. Read an amazing book, like Adult Children of Alcoholics by Janet G. Woititz, spend time with your children, go for a walk in the fall leaves or snow. Choose healthy foods that will make you feel good inside and out, and make time for exercise. Taking care of yourself will not only help you feel good, it will help you feel confident and strong. You are someone worth taking care of, and that includes staying healthy and staying sober.   Be selective about events The holidays can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re receiving invites left and right to parties that involve drinking. Don’t feel like you can’t go out and have fun, but you also don’t need to feel pressure to accept every invitation that comes your way. If you’re not feeling up to an event, be sure to set a boundary and say no without guilt. You’re doing the best you can to stay sober, and sometimes that means sitting out events that might trigger a craving.   Have a sober friend on-call Having a sober friend on-call is a crucial part of staying sober over the holidays. This person can be someone like a friend or a family member, or they could be a therapist or a sponsor. If you’re at an event and you’re finding it very difficult to resist an urge, step outside and call or text your sober friend for support and accountability.   Bring your own drinks If you’re worried about going to an event and being the only person not drinking, bring your own beverages along, like seltzers or sodas. Having something in your hand can stop people from constantly asking if you want a drink, and it can give you something to do with your hands so you don’t feel out of place. Don’t worry if it’s non-alcoholic. Most people will hardly notice, but you’ll be glad to have something to sip on.   Focus on other traditions The holiday season can have a big focus on drinking, but what else can you do to celebrate? Decorate a tree, hang up Christmas lights, cook the Thanksgiving turkey, go sledding. There are tons of ways to celebrate the holidays while maintaining your sobriety. The holiday season is a time of celebration that you can share with friends and family. You don’t have to drink to celebrate, and there are tons of options for activities you can do. Many local Alcoholics Anonymous chapters will even plan sober Christmas parties, so you can have a fun night out with others in recovery.   Bring a sober friend If you’re going to an event that will have drinking, why not bring a sober companion to help you with accountability? The two of you can support each other, and if the atmosphere isn’t right, you can make the decision to leave together.   Give to others Find joy in the holiday season by giving back to others. Whether it’s volunteering at a soup kitchen or picking out the perfect gift for your loved one, the joy and magic of the holiday season comes from being generous. Maybe you’ve lost precious time with friends and families over the holidays before you were sober. One of the best parts of being sober is being able to have a clear mind and being able to put your time and talents towards benefiting others, and not just yourself.   Find a meeting Even if you’re travelling for the holidays, if you’re struggling, make time to go to a meeting. Many Alcoholics Anonymous chapters will still run over the holidays. Go online and look up the local chapter where you’ll be staying, even if you’re out of town.   Stay active If the thought of staying sober is making you antsy, be sure to stay active. If you’re at a party, maybe you can play a game or offer to help with dishes. If you’re with family, bring everyone outside for a snowball fight or decorate cookies together. Keeping your hands busy will help you pass the time.   Be honest Lastly, be honest if you’re struggling. The people who care about you want you to succeed and they want you to stay sober. Being honest about your struggles can help people understand why you don’t want a drink or why you’re declining their invitation to go out. Now, this doesn’t mean that everyone you meet deserves to hear your story, but if someone you trust is accidentally pressuring you, let them know so they can support you instead.   In a nutshell, it’s not always easy to stay sober over the holidays. But these tips will help you on your journey. It is possible to stay sober and to be able to celebrate in a way that doesn’t involve alcohol. Take care of yourself and remember how good it feels to be sober. You’ll be able to make amazing memories with your friends and loved ones, and you’ll be able to go back to normal life feeling proud and feeling healthy. You can do it!     What is your personal tip to stay sober during the holidays? Just hit reply to this email and share with us your personal tip. We will collect all the tips and share them in our future newsletter.  Sincerely, Chris from AA Big  Book App.     https://mybigbookapp.com/

Speaker Recordings   Wee Willie’s Sobriety First Media AA CD’s Literature and tapes https://www.mediafire.com/sobrietyfirst *****   The Lights are On http://xa-speakers.org/     Recovery Speakers http://recoveryspeakers.com/

COVID-19 LINKS     List of Virtual Meetings & Speaker Archives https://www.thetokenshop.com/Online_AA_Meetings   On Line Meetings Directory http://aa-intergroup.org/directory.php?utm_source=AVLtoday&utm_campaign=e6058ed738-03.23.2020+AVL&utm_mediu     Sybil https://alcoholics-anonymous.eu/online-meetings/   Elizabeth Globalspeakersgroup.sxl.cn   Hugh http://aa-intergroup.org/directory.php   China AA Loners   http://chinaaaloners.com/online-meetings/       ARCHIVES   *NEW* GUIDED MEDITATION http://bit.ly/2Ogwe9v     http://www.bigbookfordummies.com/ An On-Line Study Resource   Daily Meditations Group Home http://groups.google.com/group/Your_Daily_Reprieve?hl=en     Daily Meditations Archive http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/7AMmeeting/   Blog http://todaysreprieve.blogspot.com/

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AA Membership Survey (2014) http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/p-48_membershipsurvey.pdf   2015 http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/Members/2015-Membership-Survey/Survey-Results-Page-2

Meditation Resources   http://www.peterrussell.com/TV/3Min.php   *****   Loving Kindness Meditations   With Music   http://www.excelatlife.com/mp3/direct_download.php?file=lovingkindnessmusic.mp3     Voice only http://www.excelatlife.com/mp3/direct_download.php?file=lovingkindness.mp3   ***** Free Guided Meditations http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22

Resources     *NEW* Living Life Fully http://www.livinglifefully.com/   Great Minds Quotes https://twitter.com/GreatestQuotes   BIG BOOK SEARCH ENGINE: http://www.whytehou se.com/big_ book_search/   Twenty Four Hours a Day Since 1954, Twenty-Four Hours a Day has become a stable force in the recovery of many alcoholics throughout the world. With over nine million copies in print (the original text has been revised), this "little black book" offers daily thoughts, meditations, and prayers for living a clean and sober life. A spiritual resource with practical applications to fit our daily lives. Copyright 1975 Hazeleden Foundation   Tammy’s recovery links http://www.bluidkiti.com/forums/   NEW! Twisted Thinking Making Sense Out of Nonsense: Change Happens by Changing Your Perception by Georgia Hughes amazon.com/author/georgiahughes     AA Photo Archives http://www.rewritables.net/cybriety/aa_photos.htm   Heard at A Meeting https://twitter.com/heardinameeting   Breast Cancer Site Take a minute and click to provide free mammograms https://thebreastcancersite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/bcs/home   MEN FIGHTING CANCER TOGETHER America’s largest volunteer men’s cancer support group and advocacy national nonprofit organization. http://malecare.org/   Big Book Quotes http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/BigBookQuotes/   The Universe https://www.facebook.com/scherie.dee   Prayables http://prayables.org/   Daily Reflections Link https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/daily-reflection    24 Hours A Day Book Link  https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/thought-for-the-day/twenty-four-hours-a-day   AA History Lovers is now located @ https://groups.io/g/AAHistoryLovers     As We See It (AWSI) http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AsWeSeeIt/     Keep It Simple Hazelden Meditations     Daily Thought http://groups.google.com/group/TransitionsDaily   Speaker Recordings http://storiesofrecovery.org/Workshops.htm {Under Reconstruction}   Wisdom of the Room http://www.theWisdomoftheRooms.com

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