7-24-06

[readandpostrosie]

July 24, 2006

Daily Reflections


HELPING OTHERS

"Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant
thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20

Self-centeredness was my problem. All my life people had been doing
things for me and I not only expected it, but I was ungrateful and
resentful they didn't do more. Why should I help others, when they
were supposed to help me? If others had troubles, didn't they deserve
them? I was filled with self-pity, anger and resentment. Then I
learned that by helping others, with no thought of return, I could
overcome this obsession with selfishness, and if I understood humility,
I would know peace and serenity. No longer do I need to drink.

************************************************** *********

[Nuts]

readandpostrosie wrote:

> HELPING OTHERS
>
> "Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant
> thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.
> ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20

....until the day comes when we realize that building our world
around others is just as sick. And then we start attending
CODA.

--
Justin (on trial)

[TaraG]

"Nuts" <nutso_fast@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4w6xg.71133$fG3.14035@dukeread09...
> readandpostrosie wrote:
>
>> HELPING OTHERS
>>
>> "Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant
>> thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.
>> ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20
>
> ...until the day comes when we realize that building our world
> around others is just as sick. And then we start attending
> CODA.

But then too much time in CODA makes you realize that you may have Family of
Origin issues, requiring ACOA, which (naturally) leads to having to go to
EA.

A person could end up with a full social calendar. wooohoooo

Tara

[F. H.]

TaraG wrote:
> "Nuts" <nutso_fast@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:4w6xg.71133$fG3.14035@dukeread09...
>> readandpostrosie wrote:
>>
>>> HELPING OTHERS
>>>
>>> "Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant
>>> thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.
>>> ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20
>> ...until the day comes when we realize that building our world
>> around others is just as sick. And then we start attending
>> CODA.
>
> But then too much time in CODA makes you realize that you may have Family of
> Origin issues, requiring ACOA, which (naturally) leads to having to go to
> EA.

Eastern Airlines?

[TaraG]

"F. H." <connectu2@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:xh7xg.8565$6G3.2842@trnddc05...
> TaraG wrote:
>> "Nuts" <nutso_fast@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:4w6xg.71133$fG3.14035@dukeread09...
>>> readandpostrosie wrote:
>>>
>>>> HELPING OTHERS
>>>>
>>>> "Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant
>>>> thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.
>>>> ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20
>>> ...until the day comes when we realize that building our world
>>> around others is just as sick. And then we start attending
>>> CODA.
>>
>> But then too much time in CODA makes you realize that you may have Family
>> of Origin issues, requiring ACOA, which (naturally) leads to having to go
>> to EA.
>
> Eastern Airlines?

Emotions Anonymous.

It exists. I've seen it. And yes, its as ridiculous as it sounds.
Tara

[Tommy]

"Nuts" <
> ...until the day comes when we realize that building our world
> around others is just as sick. And then we start attending
> CODA.
>
> --
> Justin (on trial)

Whats the betting that your second name is Case'

Building a world around others is a very "Bad" (tm) idea -
They might actually want to drown themselves, or blow themselves up - then
where would you be:-)

[Grace]

TaraG wrote:
> "Nuts" <nutso_fast@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:4w6xg.71133$fG3.14035@dukeread09...
>
>>readandpostrosie wrote:
>>
>>
>>>HELPING OTHERS
>>>
>>>"Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant
>>>thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.
>>>ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20
>>
>>...until the day comes when we realize that building our world
>>around others is just as sick. And then we start attending
>>CODA.
>
>
> But then too much time in CODA makes you realize that you may have Family of
> Origin issues, requiring ACOA, which (naturally) leads to having to go to
> EA.
>
> A person could end up with a full social calendar. wooohoooo
>
> Tara
>
>
And all that introspection could easily lead to the discovery of new
addictions, including an addiction to meetings!

[Nuts]

Grace wrote:

> And all that introspection could easily lead to the discovery of new
> addictions, including an addiction to meetings!

....and addictions to addictions!

--
Justin

[Mike]

On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 16:25:57 +0000, Nuts wrote:

> readandpostrosie wrote:
>
>> HELPING OTHERS
>>
>> "Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant
>> thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.
>> ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20
>
> ...until the day comes when we realize that building our world
> around others is just as sick. And then we start attending
> CODA.

Amen. AA is a form of substitution called people addiction. What a bunch
of people to be addicted to eh?

[Nuts]

Mike wrote:

> On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 16:25:57 +0000, Nuts wrote:
>
> > readandpostrosie wrote:
> >
> >> HELPING OTHERS
> >>
> >> "Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant
> >> thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.
> >> ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20
> >
> > ...until the day comes when we realize that building our world
> > around others is just as sick. And then we start attending
> > CODA.
>
> Amen. AA is a form of substitution called people addiction. What a bunch
> of people to be addicted to eh?

I know that it's sometimes hard to tell what I'm selling when my
posts are bound so tightly in *Sarcastic Wrap*….

"All things in moderation" is the point I was attempting to make
(although I do make an exception for alcohol). I sorta choked
when I read, “constant thought of others... and their needs.".
It's too much like my mom's mindful subservience to my dad.
It's a complete and utter surrender of oneself to the needs of
another - a kind of bogus sublimation designed to set unrealistic
and unattainable standards for one's self-worth.

But I'm talking about extremism….

Alcoholism is an extreme case. And while AA as a whole might
seem an extreme solution to some - for others it fits “just right”.
But I know many AAers get a tad overzealous and become
addicted (in a *good* way) to other things. I poke fun at them
whenever possible. And yet I can understand their temptation to
go *off* because I'm not that different. (Did I ever tell you about
this friend of mine who used to post to Usenet day and night? No
shit!)

Extremism can be a very effective tool - not to mention fun, at
times. It's worked for me on occasion - but not all the time and
not always real well. I've had much better luck (when I work at it)
trying to strike a balance in my dealings with others. Unfortunately,
it's a very difficult thing for a lazy back-sliding bastard, like me to
achieve balance. And so I tend to fall far short of my own
expectations. C'est la vie.

Philosophically yours,
---
Descart-rateez

[TaraG]

"Nuts" <nutso_fast@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:5ftxg.71211$fG3.44626@dukeread09...

> Philosophically yours,
> ---
> Descart-rateez

Wouldn't that be "Duh, cart raw tees"?

On second thought, maybe that belongs in the environmentally conscious
thread.
Tara

[TaraG]

"TaraG" <taragreen2@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:Mrtxg.4432$qZ2.435@trndny01...
>
> "Nuts" <nutso_fast@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:5ftxg.71211$fG3.44626@dukeread09...
>
>> Philosophically yours,
>> ---
>> Descart-rateez
>
> Wouldn't that be "Duh, cart raw tees"?

Every one of you hereby has permission to kick my ass for that one.

Whoo, clear the room.....that was a real stinker.

Tara

[Tex]

On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 18:33:17 GMT, "TaraG" <taragreen2@verizon.net>
wrote:

>
>"TaraG" <taragreen2@verizon.net> wrote in message
>news:Mrtxg.4432$qZ2.435@trndny01...
>>
>> "Nuts" <nutso_fast@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:5ftxg.71211$fG3.44626@dukeread09...
>>
>>> Philosophically yours,
>>> ---
>>> Descart-rateez
>>
>> Wouldn't that be "Duh, cart raw tees"?
>
>Every one of you hereby has permission to kick my ass for that one.
>
>Whoo, clear the room.....that was a real stinker.
>
>Tara
>
I wonder if Tommy will want it shaved and perfumed before he'll kick
it?

[Nuts]

TaraG wrote:

> > Philosophically yours,
> > ---
> > Descart-rateez
>
> Wouldn't that be "Duh, cart raw tees"?
>
> On second thought, maybe that belongs in the environmentally conscious
> thread.
> Tara

Why, whatever do you mean, Ms. Tara? I do believe you are
referring to yesterday's man. The clown who I once was, hath
died and gone away....Nevermore shall he quip. Never again
shall he jester.

I am born anew. I'm now full of reasons. I have flipped a new
leaf... a man for all seasons.. (Yet, I can't figure out where
all this bloody rhyming's coming from.... Hopefully tis only
a temporary thing.)

Btw - I believe above, you meant *Duh, cart raw TREES* ....
would belong in the environmental thread...

You sexy, silly tease! ; )

[TaraG]

"Nuts" <nutso_fast@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Rjuxg.71213$fG3.25755@dukeread09...
> TaraG wrote:
>
>> > Philosophically yours,
>> > ---
>> > Descart-rateez
>>
>> Wouldn't that be "Duh, cart raw tees"?
>>
>> On second thought, maybe that belongs in the environmentally conscious
>> thread.
>> Tara
>
> Why, whatever do you mean, Ms. Tara? I do believe you are
> referring to yesterday's man. The clown who I once was, hath
> died and gone away....Nevermore shall he quip. Never again
> shall he jester.
>
> I am born anew. I'm now full of reasons. I have flipped a new
> leaf... a man for all seasons.. (Yet, I can't figure out where
> all this bloody rhyming's coming from.... Hopefully tis only
> a temporary thing.)

Holy crap. I hope so too. That was freaking me out a little bit

> Btw - I believe above, you meant *Duh, cart raw TREES* ....
> would belong in the environmental thread...
>
> You sexy, silly tease! ; )

I know you were just rhyming with TREES, but since you could have gone with
"fleas", I'll totally take the compliment.

Tara

[Tommy]

"Nuts" >
> I know that it's sometimes hard to tell what I'm selling when my
> posts are bound so tightly in *Sarcastic Wrap*….
>
> "All things in moderation" is the point I was attempting to make
> (although I do make an exception for alcohol). I sorta choked
> when I read, “constant thought of others... and their needs.".
> It's too much like my mom's mindful subservience to my dad.
> It's a complete and utter surrender of oneself to the needs of
> another - a kind of bogus sublimation designed to set unrealistic
> and unattainable standards for one's self-worth.
>
> But I'm talking about extremism….
>
> Alcoholism is an extreme case. And while AA as a whole might
> seem an extreme solution to some - for others it fits “just right”.
> But I know many AAers get a tad overzealous and become
> addicted (in a *good* way) to other things. I poke fun at them
> whenever possible. And yet I can understand their temptation to
> go *off* because I'm not that different. (Did I ever tell you about
> this friend of mine who used to post to Usenet day and night? No
> shit!)
>
> Extremism can be a very effective tool - not to mention fun, at
> times. It's worked for me on occasion - but not all the time and
> not always real well. I've had much better luck (when I work at it)
> trying to strike a balance in my dealings with others. Unfortunately,
> it's a very difficult thing for a lazy back-sliding bastard, like me to
> achieve balance. And so I tend to fall far short of my own
> expectations. C'est la vie.
>
> Philosophically yours,
> ---
> Descart-rateez

Mine are more bound in pragmacynicwrap touched with humungous humour. Laugh
and the world thinks you're mad.

I had a life/death situation a goodly number of years ago. 2 things stick
in my mind - for your penance you may have to listen:)
I went under for a while. I near died on the table. They prodded my chest
and injected my ticker. I never felt better in all my life when I
eventually came to. I was on drips and had a few drains on my face. But.
When the surgeons came and asked me all sorts of peculiar questions, and
insisted that my chest and tummy HAD to be hurting me, I set off the
beepers. As it turned out I recuperated, got well and didn't look back.
About 5 years later, I had my final check-up, got the all clear, and got to
see my charts.

My surgeon asked me to ease back on the drinking a few times that day. But
I read it in black and white that I had been 'under' for 20 minutes, and
being rescusitated.

I didn't stop drinking for another few years after that. I slowly came to
the conclusion that I was living on borrowed time. Hindsighting now of
course, but I believe I woke up one day smiling, knowing that everything was
going to be okay. And it was.

Using, practicing, accessing, learning, listening, I dunno - putting bits
and pieces of the programme jigsaw into little slots, moving them around to
fit in other slots, taking the bits I'm able for, leaving the other bits for
another day, slipsliding my way to some kind of peaceful life. I know today
it wouldn't have been possible without aa's steps, dogma, members, meetings.
We've done our time. We are only so terribly human too.

I used to fret, what if they don't like me, accept me, listen to me, agree
with me, laugh at my jokes, tell me I'm crazy, the usual penny ante
nonimportant details that consume us :-))

THis life is superior only because I've learned to acceot things pretty much
as they are. Even accepting a part of me is okay on any gioven day. I'll
get there sooner or later. We all will.

Whats different about us today isn't the not drinking, we've all 'not drank'
before, leastways I did. No, what is different I think is that we know why
we're 'not drinking', and the consequences.

Cheers
Tommy

[Tommy]

"Tex" <>>>> Philosophically yours,
>>>> ---
>>>> Descart-rateez
>>>
>>> Wouldn't that be "Duh, cart raw tees"?
>>
>>Every one of you hereby has permission to kick my ass for that one.
>>
>>Whoo, clear the room.....that was a real stinker.
>>
>>Tara

> I wonder if Tommy will want it shaved and perfumed before he'll kick
> it?

I'll kiss Taras bottom any day, rough and ready is the way I like it :-))

No way would I abuse a poor defenceless donkey though.

Cheers
Tommy

[Tex]

On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:25:47 GMT, "Tommy"
<tommyleprechaun@geemail.com> wrote:


>No way would I abuse a poor defenceless donkey though.
>
>Cheers
>Tommy

I should have seen that one coming.