Nietzsche said, “The voice of beauty speaks softly; it creeps only into the most fully awakened souls”

When I was a child, I possessed a naturally gentle and loving nature. My heart overflowed with kindness, and I treated others with care and compassion. However, as the grip of addiction tightened its hold on me, my gentle and loving nature slowly began to fade.

Then, when drugs and alcohol no longer made the cold life I was living bearable, I discovered the rooms of addiction recovery. Here I found people who had love in their hearts and were making a difference in the world around them. 

So, I did what they did, and slowly began to rediscover the wonderful essence of my true self, rekindling the gentle and loving nature that once defined me. 

Over the years I’ve been able to extend gentleness and love not only to others but to myself. I’ve also embraced forgiveness, knowing that my past struggles don’t define me, but rather serve as steppingstones to growth, transformation, and connection to others.

Wherever you’re at or whatever shape your spirits in, know that your natural qualities of gentleness and love are never lost. They’re merely waiting to be rediscovered within you.  

Today we close with a brief calming meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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I excelled in life as a child. I didn't take shortcuts and embraced hard work and dedication. Unfortunately, as I entered my teens, the allure of drugs and alcohol took hold, and lead me down the treacherous path of shortcuts and instant gratification.

Thankfully, I found a glimmer of hope when I hit rock bottom and wound up in the rooms of addiction recovery. This was a place where people believed in the power of doing things the right way and didn't take shortcuts.

So, I committed myself to their journey of self-discovery, healing, and transformation, free of short cuts. I was amazed that this was the place I learned that true fulfillment and success were earned through commitment, consistency, perseverance, and diligence.

Over the years, I’ve stayed true to my commitment to not take shortcuts, even when faced with challenges and temptations. Because of this, I’ve been able to build a wonderful life filled with stability, consistency, and a deep sense of fulfillment.

No matter what path you may be taking, know that you too can create a life filled with purpose and joy. Just stay strong, remain steadfast, be true to yourself, and reject the allure of shortcuts. 

Today we close with a brief meditation to remove suffering. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Charles Darwin said, “It is the long history of humankind that those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”

When I was a child, I had an incredible gift for forming deep and meaningful connections with everyone around me. My genuine kindness and ability to understand others created strong partnerships and friendships. However, as I entered my teens, addiction began to consume my life, leading to a downward spiral that eroded these precious relationships.

Thankfully when I hit bottom and asked for help, I was brought to the rooms of addiction recovery. By taking the twelve steps of the program, particularly steps four through nine, I began to rebuild the trust and connections that were once lost. With each step of my journey, I learned valuable lessons about honesty, vulnerability, and the power of genuine human connections.

Over the years, the unity, recovery, and service of the program has transformed my life. I’ve been able to form strong partnerships and friendships, nurtured by trust, understanding, and compassion. My experiences have given me a profound understanding of the importance of authentic connections, and I’m blessed to get to share what I’ve learned with others on their own paths of recovery.

No matter what challenges we face, it is never too late to rebuild and strengthen our relationships with others. Remember connections and true partnerships with our fellows are what make life rich and meaningful. So, let’s cherish the partnerships and friendships we have, and nurture them with care and love, so others can see that it can be done too. 

Today we close with a brief peace meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

I possessed a vibrant imagination with boundless creativity as a child. I would paint colorful pictures with my thoughts, weave intricate stories, and dream of endless possibilities. 

Unfortunately, as addiction took hold of my life, my sense of wonder slowly eroded, and my creative spirit became stifled. By the time I hit bottom, I hadn’t created anything meaningful in a long time, and my imagination had seen better days. 

Thankfully, when I finally made it to the rooms of recovery, I found happy people with wild imaginations, who were creating wonderful things. So, with a glimmer of hope that I too could catch the zest for life these people had, I stayed.

Sure enough, as my heart healed, my imagination and creativity began to reemerge. By the time I finished the initial recovery process, my imagination was afire, and I was once again expressing my authentic self in several creative ways.

Over the years, my imagination and creativity have never waned. In fact, they’ve flourished. Not only bringing me immense joy, but also serving as a powerful means of self-expression and healing.

If your imagination and creativity haven’t been as alive as you would like, don’t give up hope! You too can find comfort and inspiration in many unsuspected places. So embrace your imagination, nurture your creativity, and let them guide you towards a life filled with limitless possibilities.

Today we close with a brief guided meditation for building focus. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Tao Te Ching said, “When the student is ready the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready... The teacher will Disappear.”

I approached life with a sense of readiness and open-mindedness when I was a kid. However, in my teens, the grip of addiction took hold of my life, I lost my sense of readiness, and found myself unprepared for the struggles and obstacles life presented.

Then, in the depths of despair, I hit rock bottom and became entirely ready to do whatever it took to recover and turn my life around. So, with newfound determination, I embarked on a journey of healing, self-discovery, and personal growth. 

I confronted my past, addressed my pain, and rebuilt my life from the ground up. Today, by staying entirely ready, I’ve been able to make meaningful connections, live a life of purpose, and successfully navigate everything that comes my way. 

No matter what challenges you may be facing, or how unprepared you may feel, there is always hope for a brighter future. By being entirely ready to do the work, and embracing everything life throws your way, you too can find strength, healing, and the extraordinary life that awaits you.

Today we close with a brief setting yourself free meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Terry Virts said, “It's funny how, when things seem the darkest, moments of beauty present themselves in the most unexpected places.”

When I was a boy, I found the positive ‘silver lining’ in nearly everything I experienced. But, once I started drinking and using, hope and optimism began to fade, and I soon found the negative wherever I looked.
 
Then, in the depths of my addiction, I was brought to a detox center and introduced to the greatest silver lining an alcoholic addict could ask for. The people, the program, and the rooms, of addiction recovery.
 
Who would have known that after years of carelessness, I would be welcomed by an amazing community of people making a difference in the world. They offered me understanding, support, guidance, and love, and became my beacon of hope.
 
They taught me tools to navigate the ups and downs of life and showed me that the silver lining wasn’t just a fleeting glimmer. It was a new, wonderful way of living that allows me to find the positive in every situation, whether good or bad.
 
Today, as I reflect on my journey, I see that the silver lining I lost as a child, has been restored. It’s a gift that accompanies me through all of life's challenges, guiding me towards growth, gratitude, and a deeper appreciation for the beauty within every experience.
 
No matter where you are, what you’ve done, or what’s been done to you. Please know, that even in the darkest moments, there’s always a silver lining waiting to be discovered.

Today we close with a brief body scan meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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William Shakespearesaid, “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”

I was born with potential for greatness. And as a young lad, I began to capitalize on it. Unfortunately, once drugs and alcohol infiltrated my life, that greatness began to fade, and good became acceptable.
 
Over time, mediocrity replaced good. And before I realized it, misery replaced mediocrity, and soon became the norm.
 
Then, when I could no longer drink or drug away the pain of my miserable life, I pleaded to the universe for help, and was quickly brought to the rooms of 12 step addiction recovery.
 
Here I met people who had also pawned off the greatness of their lives for the lies of addiction. But, they had found a way back. And not just from miserable to good, but from the pits of despair to great!
 
So I followed in their footsteps, and quickly left mediocrity behind as I had my initial spiritual healing as a result of the unity, recovery, and service of the twelve step addiction recovery programs I belonged to. 

Once that happened, I took even more action so that I could make the climb from good to great. I used every means possible to fully heal my mind, body and spirit. 

From Joe & Charlie Step Studies, H & I Service Work, AA & NA Sponsorship, Thich Nhat Hanh Retreats, Self-Realization Fellowship, A Course in Miracles, Bikram Yoga, silence retreats, meditation retreats, exercise, education, and so more. I was relentless in my pursuit to heal as much of the damage my spirit had endured all those years.
 
Then, out of the blue, one day I found myself with nothing but peace and love coursing through my veins. The amazing people I surrounded myself with were right, the work paid off, and the “greatness” of my youth returned! It looked different and felt better than anything I could remember.
 
All these years later, whenever I pursue great, by consistently and sincerely using the amazing tools I learned all those years ago, I usually get amazing or incredible. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I forget about great, and think good is enough.
 
But not today! Today, I’m risking good, to continue to pursue great, amazing and incredible. How about you?

Today we close with a brief peace meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Ron Kozak said, “Once you realize you deserve a bright future, letting go of your dark past is the best choice you will ever make.” 

In my drinking and using days I believed that holding on and hanging in, were signs of great strength. But, I held on and was dragged for far too long, through the muck of my poor choices, the depths of addiction, and eventually, the pain and regret of my dark past.
 
I had thought that I was being strong. But the reality was, it would have taken more strength to let go, than to hold on as tightly as I did. Then, with the pain too much too handle, I found the hardest part wasn't even letting go, but starting over and doing the work to build a better life.
 
Thankfully, the people I met in the rooms of recovery had been dragged, let go, started over, did the work, and found wonderful, happy lives. So, I bit the bullet, started over, did the work, and sure enough, I found a wonderful, happy life too.
 
All these years later I see how that one simple act of letting go was the keystone to happy, wonderful lives for me, my family, and so many other people.
 
Whatever you may be holding on to, or wherever you may be being dragged to, know there’s a wonderful, happy life right here for you too.  So please, let go, and join us!

Today we close with a brief mindfulness meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Gandhi said, “Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.” 

As a child, I embraced life with joy and a victorious spirit. However, as I entered my teens, I fell into the destructive grip of drugs and alcohol, and gradually was transformed from a victor into a victim. Thankfully, when I reached my lowest point, I found sanctuary in the rooms of recovery.
 
Here I found former victims who were now victors. So, I embarked on the journey of recovery, and by the time I completed the steps, I had shed the victim mentality that plagued me for so long. I had blossomed into a victor, no longer blaming everyone else for my troubles.
 
All these years later I know the profound impact that addiction recovery has had on my life. It’s allowed me rise to above my circumstances, and brought me a life of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment, where I no longer see myself as a victim.
 
No matter how bad things may seem. Know that you too, can triumph over adversity, and find peace. So, please, join us, embrace the journey, and know that together, we never have to be victims again.

Today we close with a brief guided meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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George Bernard Shawsaid, “Create your own miracles; do what you think you cannot do.” 

I was a happy and wonderful kid, full of potential and curiosity. However, the people around me preached one thing but lived another. The contradictory messages I received led me astray, and I began to mirror the behaviors I witnessed, ultimately succumbing to the grip of drugs and alcohol.

Fortunately, I reached a breaking point and made it to the rooms of recovery. Here, I encountered individuals who embodied the principles of "do as I do." So, inspired by their example, I committed to the twelve-step program, and was able to shed the shackles of negative influences and find a life of happiness and freedom.

Today, as I reflect on the incredible changes that addiction recovery has brought to my life. I see how the transformation from a negative "do as I say" person to a positive "do as I do" individual began in recovery and opened the doors to an amazing life filled with fulfillment and purpose.

Wherever you are on your path, know that by breaking free from the negative patterns of addiction and embracing the positive changes of recovery, you too, can create the life of your dreams.

Today we’ll close with a brief calming meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Alaric Hutchinson said, “It’s all about reprogramming our minds to focus more on what brings us joy.”

When I was a child, my natural programming was aligned with positivity. I embraced good thoughts, took good actions, experienced positive emotions, and believed in the beauty of life. But, by my late teens, drugs and alcohol began to cloud my mind, leading to negative thinking, destructive actions, negative emotions, and a belief system that undermined my true potential.

Thankfully, by my late twenties, I hit bottom and found the rooms of addiction recovery. I didn’t know it at the time, but by embarking on the addiction recovery program, I committed to a process of deep self-reflection and transformation. With each step, I began to reprogram myself, replacing negative thoughts, actions, feelings, and beliefs, with positive ones.

All these years later, I see the incredible impact recovery had on my mind, body, and spirit. It basically reprogrammed me, and allowed me to regain the positive, happy outlook I possessed as a child, while filling my life with blessings and joy.

Wherever you are on your recovery journey, know that with a little commitment, dedication, and willingness, you too can reclaim most everything you may have lost, and live a truly blessed life.

Today we close with a 5 minute breathing meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Rumi said, “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
 
When I was a baby, I was happy and whole, and nothing needing to be changed. But, growing up in an alcoholic home, I learned survival skills that didn’t translate well to everyday life.
 
By my late teens, I had many behaviors that needed changing. Sure, I made some futile attempts to change. But since I never slowed down my drinking and using, nothing worked.
 
Then one day, with the pain of my life more than drugs and alcohol could handle, I finally asked for help. Within hours I was being taken to the rooms of recovery, where I met people who had been just like me but had turned their lives around.
 
They told me I could turn my life around too, and that I only had to change one thing. So I immersed myself in their lifestyle, and in no time at all, I started feeling better, and my life began to improve. All these years later, I see that by changing that one thing, I’ve been blessed with an amazing life!
 
If your life isn’t everything you ever dreamed of, please join us. I guarantee that you too can find the life of your dreams. And you only have to change one thing, everything!

Today we close with a brief gratitude meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Habez said, “What is this precious love and laughter budding in our hearts? It is the glorious sound of a soul waking up!” 
 
When I was a child, my heart overflowed with love, and laughter echoed through my days. However, as I entered my teens, the grip of drugs and alcohol slowly replaced my joyful moments with anger, guilt, and other negative emotions. The laughter that once resounded within me, slowly faded away.
 
Thankfully, when I finally hit rock bottom, I found solace and guidance in the rooms of recovery. As I embraced the principles of unity, recovery, and service of the program, my transformation began, and I gradually rediscovered the love and laughter that had eluded me for so long.
 
Embracing the recovery journey has allowed love to permeate my heart and laughter to fill my days. Over the years I’ve been able to live a life that can only be described as blessed. Today I know that life's beauty lies in the connections we forge, the love we give, and the joy we find in the simplest of moments.
 
Wherever you are on your journey, remember, even in the darkest of times, there is always the chance to fill your heart with love, and your life with laughter. So please join us on this path, and make your dreams come true. 

Today we close with a brief love meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me 

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Frank Sonnenberg said “People who receive a free lunch end up paying the price.”

I went the extra mile to achieve great things when I was young. From waking up early to train, to putting in extra time practicing, to staying up all night studying, hard work came naturally to me.

But, once I became addicted to drugs and alcohol, the price I paid to chase the party became far too steep. From family, friends, career, and ambitions to honesty, integrity, humility, and generosity, I pawned everything good I ever had, for a life of addiction.

Then, with nothing left but a broken spirit and a bad reputation, I landed in the rooms of recovery. Here I found people who had once been just like me, but had paid the price, and rebuilt their lives. So, after much debate, I decided to do the work necessary to get my life back. 

What I found was that yes, recovery requires a lot of hard work. But none of it is as hard as a life of addiction. I also found that the price to stay here, is far less expensive than the price to get here.

So, if you gave up everything that was good in your life to get here like I did, please, join us and stay. Every day in recovery we do the work and pay the price to make our dreams come true. And it is well worth it!

Today we’ll close with a brief gratitude meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Bruce Lee said “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.” 

I was young, wild, and free when I was a kid. I didn’t care what others thought of me, and I wasn’t attached to anyone.  But, by the time I was a teenager, I had strings attached to people all over my life.
 
From my parents and siblings to friends and girlfriends, even teachers and coaches. I began caring too much about what people thought and began to lose my sense of self.
 
Unfortunately, drugs, alcohol, food, sex, athletics, work, and other things, dulled the pain of living that way. Then one day the people I attached the strings of my life to, cut ties with me. The loneliness became too much, and I hit bottom.
 
Miraculously I was brought to the rooms of recovery where I learned that we don’t need people, drugs, alcohol, or any other addiction to be happy and free.
 
All these years later, the principles of the program have blessed me with an amazing life. One where I can be true to myself, and free of the expectations of others, while still being of service, wherever I go.
 
Whatever cards life has dealt you, I hope your strings aren't attached too tightly to anybody or anything. If they are, feel free to join us on our path, so you too can live the life of your dreams, with no strings attached.

Today we close with a brief meditation to open your heart. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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I did everything when I was a little kid. I would laugh, play, sing, dance, run, jump, read, write, learn, create, and so much more. It didn’t matter what I did, I was free to be myself. 

But at some point, other people started trying to control me, and I began losing that freedom. Thank goodness I was introduced to drugs, alcohol, parties, sex, and all that wonderful teenage wildness. They were like a pressure release valve and allowed me to reclaim my freedom, even if only temporarily. 

Unfortunately, I drank and used far more than needed, and in no time at all, I couldn’t find any freedom, no matter how much I drank or used. It was only then that the universe opened, and I landed in the rooms of recovery. 

Here I found people who had lost their freedom just like me. But had regained it by doing all the unity, recovery, and service of the 12-step program. So, I did what they did, and I too, regained many of the things I had lost, including the freedom to be myself. 

If you’ve lost your freedom, or you’re not as free as you’d like to be, don’t give up! The freedom you seek is right here, in the rooms of recovery, waiting for you to reclaim it.

Today we close with a brief meditation to set yourself free. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Lu Wei said, “Positive energy knows no boundaries. If everyone were to spread positive energy, the world would be a much better place.”

When I was a kid, I pushed the boundaries of life to the max. But somewhere along the line, fear crept in, and I slowly stopped pushing my life to the edge of wonder. 

Then, for a time, drugs and alcohol removed my fear and allowed me to push life to the limit again. But as my addictions grew, I began to either push way past the limit, or not even bother going for it. 

Then, in the blink of an eye, I was brought to the rooms of recovery. Here I met people who had been just like me, but had found their stride, and were once again pushing past the imaginary boundaries they had established for themselves.

I was hesitant at first, but once I jumped all in, I too, slowly began to push past the boundaries I had established in my addiction. As I got healthier, unnecessary boundaries disappeared, I walked through irrational fears, pushed past my self-imposed limitations, and built a wonderful life.

All these years later I see that pushing the boundaries of my life is an act of self-growth and personal development. Sure, it involves taking risks, trying new things, and stepping out of my comfort zone. But, when I push my own boundaries, I challenge myself to be better, do better, and live better. 

Wherever you are on your path, I hope you’re pushing the boundaries of life. If you’re not, join us. We’ll help you push life to the limit, so you too can make your dreams come true.

Today we close with a meditation for strength. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Roy T. Bennett said, “Be brave to stand for what you believe in even if you stand alone.”

When I was young, I believed in good things and took good actions, and good things materialized around me. But, as I grew up, my thoughts, beliefs and actions slowly became negative, and sure enough, negative things began to materialize in my life.

This pattern snowballed through my addictive teens and twenties, until nearly all my thoughts, beliefs and actions were not only negative, but sad, lonely, and depressing. And wouldn’t you know it, what materialized, was a negative, sad, lonely, and depressing life of addiction.

Then one day I found myself in the rooms of recovery with all these people who believed good things, took good actions, and had good things materializing in their lives. So, I started taking the same positive actions they were taking.

Before I knew I began to feel good, believe in good and good things started happening in my life. So, I took even more positive action, and by time I completed the steps, my entire life had changed from negative to positive.

Over the years I went from a non believer to a believer simply from consistently taking the unity, recovery, and service actions of 12 step recovery, then watching the promises continually materialize in my life

Whatever you believe, or whatever you’ve been doing, if you’re not getting the results you want, please join us. I guarantee, if you do what we do, your life will get better and your dreams will materialize. Believe it!

Today we close with a brief mindfulness meditation. So when you’re ready, please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Charlie Chaplin said, “I am at peace with God. My conflict is with Man.”

When I was a child, I knew both peace, and God. Don’t get me wrong, I had no idea what God was, but I sincerely prayed to it, and was a happy, well-rounded kid, with peace in my heart.

But, as I grew into my teens, more and more negative things happened, and I quit believing in God. Once I became addicted to drugs and alcohol, I lost faith and, the last fragments of peace I had. 

Then one day I hit bottom, found the rooms of recovery, and met people with a deep, inner peace, who relied on some God I didn’t believe in. I wanted their peace! So I took their 12 steps, and I too, slowly began to find peace, while I was relying on some power far greater than I.

By the time I finished the steps, I was no longer enslaved by drugs, alcohol, or any other addictions. I had let go of my resentments, faced my fears, altered my poor behavior, cleaned up the mess of my past, had the beginnings of a relationship with some power greater than I, and, found the same peace those around me had.

All these years later, I have no idea who or what God is. But, when I consistently and sincerely do the things I learned in those first months of recovery, I’m filled with an inner peace that’s far better than any I ever got from drugs, alcohol, money, sex, or anything else.

If your heart and mind aren’t full of peace, please join us, and do what we do. You may not know God, but I guarantee, you will know peace. 

Today we close with a brief meditation for to bring peace into our heart and mind. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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“Next to love, balance is the most important thing.” ― John Wooden

When I was a child, the scales of my life were well balanced across all areas of life. That balance helped me to be happy, find fulfillment in most everything I did, and be a positive, contributing member of my community. 

But, as I grew into my teens and started using drugs and alcohol regularly, the scales of my life became terribly unbalanced. For a time, drinking and using made that okay, until one day it no longer was, and I found my way to the rooms of recovery. 

What a relief it was to find people who had once been as unbalanced as me, but were now living productive, happy, balanced lives. So, I accepted their support and the tools they offered, and after some trial and error, I too, began to get balance back in my life.

Over the years later, I’ve continued to use those same tools to successfully navigate everything life has thrown my way, to find meaning and purpose, and continually balance the scales of my life. 

No matter how unbalanced your life may be, don’t give up hope! Everything you need to turn things around and balance the scales of your life, are here for you too. 

Today we close with a brief meditation for Inner Peace, Happiness, and Calm. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Idowu Koyenikan. said, “The mind is just like a muscle - the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.”

When I was young, I didn’t have problems with my mind. I thought good things, had an optimistic outlook, and took positive actions. But, as negative experiences began to happen around me, I began to think and act negatively.
 
Then, when I started going down the dark path of addiction, I began to think and act even worse. Thankfully, one day drugs and alcohol no longer helped to relieve the pain of my negative life, and I wound up in the rooms of recovery.
 
Here I found people who used to think and act as negatively as I did. But they had a spiritual program of action that had changed their thinking. So, I did what they did, and over time, my negative thinking began to turn positive too.
 
All these years later, consistently taking the actions of addiction recovery has brought back the positive, optimistic mind of my youth. It also made it so I no longer need alcohol, drugs, or any other addictions, to be happy, joyous, and free.
 
So, wherever you are, and no matter the depth of your negative thinking or addictions may be, know that while our problems may center in our mind, our solutions are right here in the rooms of recovery.

Today we close with a brief meditation to help Ease Tension and Calm Your Mind. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Melissa de la Cruz said, “I don't need anything to get high. I'm high on life.”

When I was young, I was high on life. From music, to academics, athletics, community service, art, hobbies, games and more. I loved to participate, and my spirit was energized by doing almost anything.

Then life changed, and I starting using drugs and alcohol to enhance the life experiences I used to love doing completely sober. By time I was fully addicted, I thought I needed the artificial high that drugs and alcohol provided, to do the things I used to do without them. 

When I finally found the rooms of recovery, I learned that being clean & sober isn’t just about abstaining from drugs and alcohol. It’s about finding new ways to experience joy, happiness, and fulfillment, and that we can get "high on life" without the need for drugs and alcohol.

I quickly began to rediscover old hobbies and interests that I had abandoned during my addiction. I also found new passions and pursuits that brought me joy, satisfaction, and that same sense of getting high on life I enjoyed in my youth.

Unlike the fleeting and unnatural high that drugs and alcohol provided, getting high on life is sustainable and meaningful, and brings true and lasting happiness. It also provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment that is unmatched by any substance.

So, if you’re not getting high on life without the need for drugs and alcohol, come join us. I guarantee you’ll experience happiness and fulfillment like never before, 

Today we close with a brief guided meditation to help bring us more confidence. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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H. Jackson Brown, Jr. said, “Hope is not a resting place but a starting point - a cactus, not a cushion.”

Yesterday’s A.A. Daily Reflections talked about “A Resting Place”. When I was a kid, there was so much chaos, confusion, and anxiety in our home, that it was not the ‘resting place’, that many of my peers’ homes were. 

Luckily, I participated in so many activities, that I was able to find my ‘safe haven” in many places. From athletics, to academics, music, art, student government, social settings, and a wide variety of outdoor activities, I was able to escape, even if only temporarily.

When the older kids in my neighborhood finally gave me alcohol and marijuana for the first time, it took away my fear almost immediately, and quickly became my go to source to escape. For years after that, alcohol and drugs provided me a temporary resting place, during even the most turbulent times.

Then, one day, no matter what I did, I couldn’t escape the agony and disappointment of my life, and the rooms of recovery opened before me. At first, I found a temporary resting place from the pain and misery I had been experiencing.

But, once I got a taste of the immense relief other people were experiencing, I fully committed to recovery. Sure enough, as soon as I did, I began experiencing the same reprieve and found my safe haven.

Throughout my years in recovery, the universe has continued to place immense challenges before me. Through them all, I’ve stayed in the middle of recovery, been completely taken care of, and had a safe resting place wherever I go. 

So, no matter what challenges you may be going through, no matter who may be causing them, or how bad they may be, know that there’s relief and a resting place for you, right here in the rooms of recovery. 

Today we close with a brief guided meditation to help bring us more confidence. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Napoleon Hill said, ““Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.”

When I was a child, I had this natural strength of mind, body, and spirit. I was curious, adventurous, and full of life. However, as I moved into my teens, life got much harder, and I started using drugs and alcohol to give me strength.

Unfortunately, I soon became addicted, and eventually needed more and more alcohol and drugs to get through even the easiest of things. Thankfully, when I finally hit rock bottom, I had just enough strength to ask for help and enter addiction recovery. 

At first, I thought that getting clean and sober meant that I was weak. However, as I got active in the steps, I began to get strength from some power greater than myself, and from the people in the rooms who were helping me. 

Then, as I began cleaning up the mess of my past life, I started being of service, and found an untapped reservoir of strength that had been missing for a long time. 

All these years later, this natural way of strength through unity, recovery, and service, has allowed me to successfully navigate life’s most difficult challenges without drinking, using or causing damage to myself or others.
 
No matter where you are in life, or what you may be going through today, know that this natural way of strength is available to you too.

Today we close with a brief meditation to help bring us strength. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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C. S. Lewis said, “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.'” 

When I was young, I believed in God, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny. I used to pray with all my might and hoped God would take care of me. But, before I made it to middle school, the anger and violence around me had intensified so much, I quit believing in God.
 
Instead, I started using drugs and alcohol to take away the disappointment and pain of my life. Eventually, I became addicted, and stayed far away from anyone who even mentioned the word God.
 
When I finally I hit rock bottom and found the rooms of recovery, I was introduced to people who were happy, living good lives and believed in God. At first, I was disgusted and offended, and wanted to flee this ridiculous cult.
 
But then someone told me I could build my own God, and find my own spiritual path. They gave me a book of instructions, a sponsor to guide my journey, and told me I don’t have to believe in God, just finish the steps before I judge it.
 
Before you knew it, I was praying to a God I didn’t believe in, and feeling better. Sure, I wanted to leave a bunch of times, but I stuck it out until I completed their steps. And oh how thankful I was.
 
 When I was finished, drugs and alcohol had been removed from my life, I had cleaned up the ‘wreckage of my past’, healed my spirit, formed new, honest relationships, become useful to my fellow man, and had built a new wonderful resource that I use to this day, my very own God.
 
No matter what your spiritual beliefs may or may not be, whether you believe in a Group of Drunks, Gift of Desperation, Great Out Doors, or no god at all, there is a wonderful life for you right here in the rooms of recovery.
 
So please, join us, get busy, build your own god, and watch your life get amazing!

Today we close with the 11th step St Francis Prayer meditation from Alcoholics Anonymous. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Shinji Kagawa said, “You either lose your way or you break through the hardships and live well. There is a massive difference.”

Even though I struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for years, I was still able to achieve impressive levels of success. And I would have told you that drugs and alcohol helped me achieve what I did.
  
But, once I got clean and sober, I realized that drugs and alcohol held me back, and prevented me from chasing my wildest dreams. Any success I achieved while still drinking and drugging was in spite of my drug and alcohol use, not because of it.
  
All these years later I see that living drug and alcohol free has allowed me to take my life to heights I never dreamed of before. It’s also given me a strength and resilience to take on new challenges and pursue new opportunities that were previously out of reach.

No matter how much damage drugs, alcohol, or other addictions may have caused you, you can overcome any challenge you face, and make your wildest dreams come true. I guarantee it!

Today we close with one of my favorite breathing meditations. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Ardour said, “It takes hope and courage to keep fighting even after the world has given up.”

I was a happy, carefree person when I was young. But as I grew up, outside forces drove fear into my heart and mind, and I lost that sense of happiness and freedom. Eventually, I turned to drugs and alcohol to cope, and found myself sinking deeper into addiction.

When I finally hit rock bottom, a door appeared, and I entered the rooms of 12-step recovery. Here I found the support, tools, and guidance I needed to rebuild my life, get a renewed sense of purpose, and regain the happiness and freedom of my youth.

Over the years, recovery has provided me everything I need to face any challenge that comes my way. It’s also given me a deep sense of inner peace and serenity, regardless of circumstances. Something drugs and alcohol never did. 

Wherever you’re at or whatever you’re going through, it’s never too late to turn your life around. No matter how bad things may seem, there is always hope for a better future, and a brighter tomorrow! So, please, keep moving forward and whatever you do, don’t give up the fight. 

Today we close with a brief guided meditation to help bring us more peace and calm. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Charles Dickens said, “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”

I thought that once I got clean and sober, life would be wonderful, and I’d be surrounded by happy, successful people nearly all the time. Oh, how wrong I was!

I found out very quickly that being an active member of the recovery community is about caring for and helping the broken, the difficult, the hurt, the misunderstood, the wounded, the repulsive, and even the wicked.

Recovery’s about turning the other cheek when someone hurts you. It’s about loving one another and making amends. It’s about allowing people as many chances as they need, no matter what they may have done. After all, God gave us endless chances! 

So, no matter how many times someone stumbles back into the rooms, we do not shoot our wounded! Instead, we welcome them with compassion, open hearts, and open arms, every time they come back. 

When we do, their heart heals, our heart heals, and we know true happiness and peace, at least for that moment. 

Whatever you do today, be kind to everyone you meet, particularly those who are struggling. Maybe it'll go unappreciated, unreciprocated, or ignored, but spread the love anyway. 

Remember when we give cheerfully and gratefully, no matter how it’s received, everyone is blessed!

Today we close with a brief relaxation meditation to help fill you with love and light, so please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Robert Ingersoll said, “We rise by lifting others.”

When I was a boy, I was involved in a wide variety of organized activities. Nearly all of them had a teacher, coach, parent, and/or mentor, who gave me encouragement, praise, and support. They helped lift me to heights I wouldn’t have achieved on my own.
  
But, once I started drinking, using, and doing things that went against my values, I quit seeking their counsel, and as time went on, I did fewer and fewer positive activities, and became my own worst critic.
  
Then, when drugs and alcohol no longer made that life okay, I found the rooms of recovery, where people I didn’t know welcomed, encouraged, and praised me. It was wonderful! I hadn’t been welcomed anywhere in a long time, let alone encouraged or praised.
  
The inspiration and support I received from these people gave me such a lift, that I stayed. In no time at all, my self-talk improved, and I was supporting, encouraging, and praising new arrivals whose self-esteem was just as low as mine when I first arrived.
  
Over the years, even though I haven't needed outside reinforcement like I used to, I’ve been surrounded by people who lift me up. And, I've been blessed to be surrounded by people who I get to lift up too.
  
That’s the beauty of twelve step recovery, we rise by lifting others. So please, stay, and we can all rise together!

Today we close with a brief relaxation meditation to help fill you with love and light, so please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and join me.

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Mo Yan said, “Human existence is as brief as the life of autumn grass, so what was there to fear from taking chances with your life?”

I used to think that I was this cool, athletic, party guy. But the reality was, I used drugs and alcohol to escape the anger, violence, fear, and chaos around me. 
  
But one day, with no one who hurt me anywhere around, I found myself still trying to escape the life I had. It was only then, with all hope lost, that I was taken to the rooms of recovery. 
 
There I met people who had found this new, wonderful drug and alcohol free way to live. And, they wanted to share it with me. Thankfully, my heart heard what my mind never could, and I stayed.
  
In not time at all, I was filled with a positivity, strength, and faith, I hadn’t had in a long time. I found a sense of purpose, and just like those around me, a new, wonderful way to live, that I still have to this day.
  
So whatever you do, stay in the middle of us and enjoy this new wonderful way of living. You never know, my might just get more than you ever dreamed.

Today we’ll close with a brief guided meditation to help fill you with love and light, so please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and join me.

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Rumi said, “O, happy the soul that saw its own faults.” 

When I was drinking and using, I avoided looking at any of my faults, even though I had no problem pointing out yours. Then, after landing in recovery and seeing the fourth step for the first time, I was hesitant, afraid, and wanted no part of it.
  
After all, I had anger, fear, pain, people, behavior, thoughts, and feelings I had to drink and use over for years. There was no way I was going to do a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself.
  
Then, I heard people in the rooms who felt just like me. But, they were doing the work, and getting through it unscathed. So, they held my hands, and walked with me through it.
 
Sure enough, I felt better when I was done, and the desire to drink and use left me. To top it off, that difficult, simple process, propelled me to complete the steps, heal my damaged spirit, and find a new, wonderful, clean and sober life.
 
Wherever you are on your path, I hope you take the time to uncover, discover, and discard. If you do, I guarantee, you too will find a new, wonderful life. And maybe even some of the hidden treasures you thought you lost.

Today we close with a brief guided meditation to help fill you with love and light, so please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and join me.

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My star began to lose its luster long before I started drinking and using drugs. Then, when nothing else worked to bring even the slightest polish to my life, I found the rooms of recovery.
 
Immediately I was surrounded by people who had been right where I was and had successfully faced their demons without having to drink, use, or sabotage their lives.
 
So, I did what they did and got the same freedom and relief they had. I also got a greater understanding of myself, my behaviors, and the underlying causes of my addictions.
 
But the greatest gifts I got were the tools to live a new, successful, drug, alcohol, and addiction free life, and the rebuilding of my spirit so it could shine bright once again. 
 
All these years later, my foundation's stronger than ever, and I use the tools daily to keep my spirit strong, so I can help other people shine too.
 
Wherever you are on your path, I hope you take the time to nurture your spirit, so it can shine as bright as can be. After all, we're all stars, and we deserve to twinkle.

Today we close with a breathing meditation, so please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and join me.

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Rae Knightly said, “Will you kill the messenger, before you hear the message?”

I heard about AA long before I arrived here. For various reasons, I always disregarded the message, and the ass carrying it.
 
But, when the pain of my addictive life became too much. I was finally able to hear the message, and see that the messenger was a white knight, not a donkey.
 
Over the years, I’ve carried the message of recovery to a lot of different people. I know I've been seen as the ass far more than I'd like to admit. But I've also been viewed as the white knight.
 
So, I’m going to keep carrying a message of hope and transformation. There’s still far too many people struggling, who don’t know there’s a way to be free of their addictions and live an amazing life.
 
No matter what message you’ve been sharing. Know that every day you have an opportunity. You can be the white night, or you can be the ass. All that really matters is that we keep sharing with those who may need it..

Today we close with a grounding meditation, so please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and join me.

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Aristotle said, “No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.”

I was a genius when I was a child! I had an innate curiosity and an unbridled imagination. I thought outside the box, explored new ideas, absorbed vast amounts of information, and processed it in my own unique way.
 
Unfortunately, I began to lose my genius as I grew up and conformed to societal norms and expectations. This stifled my creativity and limited my potential, leaving me feeling lost and disconnected. So, I began using drugs and alcohol to cushion my discomfort.
 
Thankfully, being in recovery reconnected me to all the wonders of childhood. It sparked my curiosity, my desire to learn, and my ability to think critically and creatively. I began to think outside the box, take calculated risks, embrace failure, and learn from my mistakes.
 
But the biggest thing recovery did for me was, it allowed me to find my heart, uncover my interests and passions, and rediscover my own unique inner genius. What a gift!
 
If you've lost your unique genius, know that you too can find it again, right here in the rooms of recovery. So please, jump in, hold on and get ready for the ride of your life!

Today we close with a brief, relaxation meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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William Hazlitt said, “Sincerity has to do with the connection between our words and thoughts, and not between our beliefs and actions.” 

When I was young, I took enormous amounts of positive action. That action cultivated in me, positive thoughts, positive feelings, and positive beliefs.
 
But, as I got older and my drinking, using and negative activities progressed. My thoughts, feelings, and beliefs became negative too. When I finally hit bottom, I was consumed by negativity, and no amount of alcohol or drugs could take it away.
 
Thankfully, the people I first met in recovery had been positively transformed, simply by taking the spiritual program of action outlined in recovery. So, I did what they did, and those actions positively transformed me too.
 
All these years later, I continue to rely on the same spiritual program of action I learned in my first year of recovery. Miraculously, it's allowed me to stay clean, sober, sane, rational, and have a positive outlook, no matter what the world has thrown at me.
 
Whatever challenges you may be going through, please, stay in the middle of us. I guarantee, if you take the same spiritual program of action, you'll stay positive, and be able to successfully get through anything life throws at you, just like me. 

Today we close with a simple breathing meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Lois McMaster Bujold said, “Aim high. You may still miss the target, but at least you won't shoot your foot off.”

When I was young, I wanted to make a difference. I had big goals, big dreams, and aimed high. But, as I grew up, I was influenced by societal expectations and external pressures, and began to pursue things that weren’t aligned with my authentic self. 

That led to feelings of emptiness, frustration, and a lack of fulfillment. The perfect recipe to drink, use drugs, and spin out of control.  Thankfully, when I finally made it to the rooms of recovery, I met people who were aiming at the right targets and living lives that were truly meaningful.

So, I did what they did, and as I began to work the steps, my true values, passions, and purpose began to emerge. I began aiming at the right targets and started to experience a real sense of satisfaction. 

I didn’t know it at the time, but addiction recovery turned out to be a great compass for navigating life. It’s allowed me to successfully face challenges and embrace everything life has thrown at me without having to drink, use, or behave in the negative ways I used to.

So, wherever you are along your path, remember, it is far better to be in the rooms, aiming at the right targets, than out of the rooms, aiming at the wrong ones.

Today we close with a brief guided meditation for success. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Mitch Albom said, "The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we're alone.” 

When I was young, I was emotionally independent. self-reliant and self-sufficient. I was able to take care of myself without overly relying on others for support. I was also confident, assertive, and able to make decisions on my own without being influenced by the people around me.
 
But, as my addiction grew, I became overly reliant on other people for my sense of self-worth and identity. I even began to prioritize the needs and desires of others over my own, and often had difficulty setting boundaries and making decisions independently.
 
Thankfully, when I finally found the rooms of recovery, I found people who had a healthy and balanced way of relating to others, maintaining their independence, and working with others interdependently.
 
At first, I didn’t think I would ever be quite so well rounded. But the further I progressed in the program, the more I was able to communicate effectively, set boundaries, and work collaboratively towards our shared goals.
 
All these years later, it’s wonderful having a community where each person contributes to the well-being of others, we grow and thrive together, we have our own value, and we all contribute to the worth of each other.
 
Thank you for being part of my community!

Today we close with a brief gratitude meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Confucius said, “It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.”

Those last years of my active addiction, as I increased the number of harmful things I was doing, I slowly stopped participating in many of the positive activities I loved so much.

When I finally made it to the rooms of recovery, I saw people not only doing the recovery work, but also many of the wonderful things I used to do. Their lives were productive, full, and they were reaping the rewards of recovery.
 
So, I selfishly did what they were doing, so I could reap the rewards too. It wasn’t long before I got the things I expected from recovery like, some clean and sober time under my belt, improved relationships, and I started feeling better physical and mentally
 
But, I also began getting things I hadn’t expected. Like greater emotional stability, increased self-esteem, strength of spirit back and building a new spiritual connection, and I even got a new sense of purpose in life. Those were all unexpected rewards of recovery, that I still have to this day.
 
Wherever you are on your journey, I hope you dive in the middle of us, so you too can reap the wonderful rewards of recovery. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised, and get much more than you expected.

Today we close with a brief peace meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Narcotics Anonymous says “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.” 

Yesterday’s AA Daily Reflections was titled, “Giving Up Sanity”. I hadn’t thought about it before, but I crossed the line into insane drinking and using, somewhere in my teens.
 
By the time I was a young adult, I was completely out of control, and couldn’t stop, no matter how hard I tried. Thankfully, when alcohol and drugs no longer made being insane okay, I ended up in the rooms of 12-step recovery.
 
Here I found people who had given up their insanity and were living great lives! So, I gave up also, and mimicked what they were doing. Sure enough, my insanity was replaced with reasonable, rational, positive thoughts, and I too, was restored to sanity.
  
All these years later, I see that by simply giving up the insanity of my party life, a doorway opened to an amazing, new life. A life of meaning and purpose, filled with peace, joy, abundance, unlimited possibilities, and a sanity I never knew I wanted.
  
If you have too much insanity in your life, I hope you give it up, and join us! Because there’s an amazing, wonderful, sane life, waiting just for you too. 

Today we close with a brief courage meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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An anonymous person in recovery said, ““Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” 

Someone asked me why relapse is more common today than it was when we first got clean and sober. I’m not sure it is, but there may be a perception that relapse is more common today.
 
First, addiction treatment and recovery has evolved and become much more mainstream than it used to be. And, with the population being significantly higher, relapse percentages may be the same, but overall numbers have increased.
 
Second, with the opioid epidemic having such a profound impact these last few years, many people addicted to prescribed opioids may relapse when trying to taper and reduce the amount they take.
 
Third, people today are much more connected to one another than they were 25 years ago. With social media being a powerful tool for sharing stories of relapse and recovery, there may be a perception that relapse is more common today.
 
Also, let's not forget that recovery is difficult and can be very discouraging. Therefore, setbacks and relapses are to be expected.
 
But, the most important thing to remember is, if we help, encourage and support each other, we reduce the risk of relapse, and increase our chance to achieve and maintain long-term recovery.

Today we close with a gratitude meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Dean Ornish “The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food.” 

It was great being at last weekend’s San Diego AA/Al-Anon Convention! From the Comedians at Thursday night’s Ice Cream Social to the closing speaker at Easter Sunday’s Spiritual Breakfast, this years’ event was most definitely an exciting weekend in recovery.
 
The golf tournament the poker run, fishing trip, dinner dance, 5k/10k, yoga, meditation, workshops, marathon meetings and recovery speakers, there was something for everyone and having all those people together again was fantastic.

The sense of community and commitment to sobriety was heartwarming. And seeing the success and growth of people who not so long ago were struggling, was inspiring and motivating. It was a great reminder of the transformative power of the unity, recovery, and service of 12-step programs.
 
But the real magic of last weekend’s Spring Round Up was the powerful message that recovery is fun, possible for all, and that no one has to face alcoholism or addiction alone.
 
If you’re having trouble getting connected, please reach out to your local 12-step office, contact me personally, or find a recovery event in your area, and get involved. There’s a lot going on in recovery, and you need be a part of it! 

Today we close with a breathing meditation to bring us more peace. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Nathaniel Hawthorne said, “Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.”
 
The magic of the sobriety countdown is alive and well! Yesterday’s Annual Easter Sunday Spiritual Breakfast Sobriety Countdown at the San Diego Spring Round Up was just as wonderful as ever.
 
Watching more than 1,000 recovering alcoholics standing in unison, and celebrating their sobriety time, until there was only one long-timer with more than 65 years of sobriety left standing, was inspiring.
 
Then, watching the 25 or so people with less than one year of recovery stand back up, and get counted down, until there was only one person left with four days since their last drink, was moving.
 
Long-timers who’ve gone through so much without having to drink, and new members who couldn't get through anything without drinking. A powerful reminder that recovery is possible, and that no one has to do it alone. 
 
The standing ovation for both brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my heart. It was a reminder that the more we praise and celebrate our lives, the more there is in life to celebrate. 

Wherever you are on your recovery journey, celebrate your recovery and acknowledge your achievement. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to maintain your sobriety.

Today we close with a simple mantra meditation for strength. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Oprah Winfrey said, "Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you."  ― 

Prior to arriving in the rooms of recovery, I expended tremendous amounts of energy merely trying to be normal. As my drinking, using, and negative behavior increased, so did the amount of negative energy I had.
 
When I landed in the rooms, I saw people putting positive energy into their past failures, cleaning up their mistakes, and gaining more positive energy as a result. When I finally took the steps, I too became filled with positive energy. 

All these years later, I see how simple it is. When I consistently work the 12-step program of recovery, I am enthusiastic about everything I do and I'm filled with incredible amounts of positive energy.
 
Today I put very little time into anything that's not positive. I don't have the energy for it. 

Remember, your energy is special. Be passionate, have fun, and most of all, do things that nourish your mind, body, and spirit, while recharging your positive energy.

Today we close with a refresh meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Bryant McGill said,  “The real safety net of life is community, family and nature.” ― 
 
When I was young and partying, I always assumed things would go my way. Looking back, that was the equivalent of sleepwalking blindfolded on a cliff edge fully expecting a safety net to be there when I fell.
 
Now I see how that way of living brought only so much luck, and when it was all used up, there was nothing to cushion my fall.

After all these years in recovery, when I'm considering taking a leap of faith, the majority of my friends and family will strongly suggest that I have a safety net or fallback plan in place beforehand, 'just in case.' 

But, my experience is, the only safety net I need is the unity, recovery and service of the program. It has proven over and over to be very generous, as long as I consistently take positive action and stay the course.
 
So, if you one day find yourself falling without a safety net, know in your heart that the universe will catch you, if you're doing the work.
 
Today we close with a mindfulness meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Margaret Thatcher said, “There's always something to do to keep you from what you really should be doing.”

I remember how much I appreciated the casual atmosphere, small talk, donuts, and coffee they had at those first meetings I went to. It helped draw me in like a moth to a flame.
  
But, when “should I stay or should I go” time came, none of those things factored into my decision. I stayed because the community of amazing people, their depth of recovery, and the incredible amounts of service they were doing.
  
Don’t get me wrong. To this day I still appreciate meetings with extravagant, pre-meeting unity rituals. Heck, my Saturday morning home group serves one of the best continental breakfasts in town.
  
But, if the foundation of a meeting is built on pomp and circumstance, the meeting alone won't have the strength to support people who really need to heal.
  
Wherever you are in your recovery, I hope you have an amazing home group, an incredible sponsor, and a wonderful recovery community who are always knee deep in fun, waist deep in the steps, and nearly drowning in service.

If you don’t, please find them. Because coffee, donuts, and BS will only get us so far.

Today we close with a freedom meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Alphonso Lingis said, "Those who find ecstasy do so not by visiting the shrines of civilization but by trudging in the swamps of human destitution and misery."

When I was young, I loved to do everything. Play, learn, explore, live, and take adventures. But, I was charging the road of happy destiny, not trudging it.
  
Unfortunately, aggressively attacking life led to a big crash and burn, and eventually, the rooms of recovery. When I first heard the saying, “trudge the road of happy destiny”, it validated my belief that sobriety was boring.
  
But oh, how wrong I was! For the past thirty years, trudging the road of happy destiny in recovery, has meant to live and walk with meaning and purpose every day. And it's been far more rewarding than life on any of the roads I traveled before.
  
Today, trudging the road of happy destiny means that every clean and sober day, whether we have one day sober or thousands of days – we're living with intention, and together, resolutely walking towards a better and more fulfilling life.
  
Wherever you’re at in your recovery, know that the journey is well worth any discomfort or price it takes to get here. So please, be true to yourself, and continue trudging the road of happy destiny with us.

Today we close with a calming meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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The Buddha said, "If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart"

When I was young, I learned that honesty, integrity, hard work, accountability, service, compassion, and respect were integral to a happy life. But as my drinking and drugging escalated, the less and less I used those keys.
 
When I finally found the rooms of recovery, I heard about these twelve "spiritual principles" we were supposed to live by. So, I tried living by them, but I was still unhappy and continually fell short.
 
Then my sponsor suggested I jump in the middle of the program and take all the actions outlined in the 12 steps of recovery. Sure enough, when I finally took all those actions, I found the peace and happiness I had been looking for, and those spiritual principles began to materialize in my life.
 
Today the keys to my happy life begin with take all the actions outlined in the 12 steps of recovery, chasing my dreams, and living each day to the fullest. I’ve tried other ways, but this is the only one that works without fail!
 
If you aren’t as happy as you’d like to be, remember, you can turn it around today. Nothing is too big to overcome. Be true to yourself, stay in the middle of your support community, do the work, and don’t give up before the miracle happens.

Today we close with a peace meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join us.

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Albert Einstein said, “Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.”

I remember how ridiculous I thought it was the first time I heard someone talk about having a God Box. Sure enough, within weeks, my sponsor told me to get one too. 

So, like any good alcoholic-addict, I got the oldest, dirtiest, toughest looking “God” box I could find. At first, I put my 30, 60, and 90 day tokens in it, along with a couple names of people I had resentments at.

I didn’t think anything of it, but those resentments did go away. Over time, I started adding fears, goals, dreams, and plenty more resentments. Without putting too much energy into it, everything I’ve ever put in my God box, has been reconciled.

My current God Box has a variety of tokens, chips, medallions, prayers, a meeting in a pocket, and other things collected over the years. But, the most important are the tiny slips of paper with my handwritten worries, fears, goals, dreams, and desires on them.

Some are new, some are old, some were forgotten once placed inside. The beauty is, I know each will be taken care of, if I stay in the middle of the program, taking the next right action, and keep helping new people.

If have a God box, please, keep putting little scraps of paper with all your life’s issues inside. I guarantee, thy will be taken care of. If you don’t have a God Box, I urge you to get one.

Today we close with the peace meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Remember when you were little, and the older kids seemed to know all the secrets about how everything worked. I felt that same way when I first got to the rooms of recovery.

Everybody was speaking a language that didn’t make sense. In one breath they said, “don’t make any major life changes”. Seconds later I heard, “you only have to change one thing, everything”. Then, “it’s a selfish program”, followed by “you’ve got to give it away to keep it”, or my all-time favorite, “you’ve got to surrender to win.”.

Which was it going to be? Surrender, or win? None of it made sense! But there was something wonderful going on with these people. So, I made it my mission to find out where the private board meeting was, the secret handshake, and their stupid password.

Here’s what I found out. While there are several hidden trade secrets in the rooms of 12-step addiction recovery, everybody knows them, and will freely share them with anyone they meet.

With that said, here are a few of my favorites. 1 - Only you can call yourself an addict or alcoholic, nobody else. 2 - It doesn’t say anywhere that we believe in God, only that we believe a power greater than us can restore us to sanity. 3 – There isn’t a “spiritual part of the program”, the entire program is a spiritual program.

The other that everybody knows is, it works if you work it. So, work it!

Today we close with a simple 12-styep meditation. So please site back, relax and join us.

Aloha

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Oscar Wilde said “The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.”― 

The closest I’ve ever been to sainthood was in the first few minutes of my life. I was happy, joyous, free, and loved everyone. Unfortunately, I quickly learned that most everything is a competition, and nearly everyone is a rival.
  
Luckily, I also learned that competing wasn’t about winning or losing. It was about being your best, doing your best, giving your all, never giving up, and many other saint-like values.
  
Then, as my addictions grew, I drifted further and further from the saintly principles of my childhood. When I finally crashed and burned, I was introduced to a bunch of misfits, who were trying to live by some of the same saint-like ideals, I had been taught in my youth.
  
Today, all these years later, I know I’ve never been close to being a saint. But, I've been blessed with an incredible life, simply because I keep trying to do my best, and live by the same principles I learned from those reformed deviants, so long ago.
  
Wherever you are on your path, I hope you give yourself a break, and remember, none of us are saints, but we keep trying!

Today we close with a simple basic meditation from the ninth step of alcoholics anonymous,  So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Gandhi said, “The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.” 

When I was young, I didn’t have enough power to defend myself against my father. That’s why I loved the power I received from competing, excelling, achieving, working, fighting, alcohol, drugs, money, sex, and a collection of other things.
  
They helped me rise above outside challenges, and temporarily find my own place of peace. Unfortunately, they were inadequate sources to successfully fuel my journey through life.
  
When I finally arrived in the rooms, I was completely surprised at the immense power I found. It was successfully propelling people through life situations I had to drink and use for. 
 
So, I too did the work to tap into this new power source. And sure enough, I got enough power to stay clean & sober while cleaning up the mess of my previous life. 

Not only that, but over the past 30+ years in recovery, the collective power of all the people in the program, some God I still don't understand, and the humbling power I receive by being of service to my fellow man, has successfully carried me through the most challenging times anyone could go through, without having to pick-up or do any of the garbage I used to.

What ever is going on with you, if you need additional strength to get through life, join us. I promise, if you do the work, you too will have enough power to successfully navigate anything life throws your way, without having to drink, use, or act out in a negative way.

Today we close with a simple mantra meditation to help bring us more focus and clarity. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Emo Philips said, “Never judge someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you do judge them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.”

When I was young, I wasn't passive or aggressive. Instead, I was assertive, and naturally took appropriate action in most every situation. Unfortunately, my surroundings forced me learn to be aggressive, or passive, depending on the circumstances.
  
As I grew up, I lost touch with the natural, assertive part of me, and became an overly aggressive, covertly passive addict.  Sadly, drugs, alcohol, and high levels of achievement made that life acceptable for far too long.
  
Then one day, I found myself in addiction recovery, surrounded by passive, aggressive addicts like me. They shared stories about their passive aggressive behavior, but I could see they had changed.
  
Instead of being passive aggressive, they were assertive, confident, positive, and naturally took appropriate action, the same way I did when I was young.
 
I wanted to be that way again! So, I took this “spiritual plan of action” they talked about. Sure enough, my spirit healed, my passive aggressive ways began to diminish, and my natural assertiveness began to shine again.
 
All these years later it still works! I have self-confidence, use positive communication, and am naturally assertive in most situations. But, if I’m inconsistent for any period, I can easily become a passive-aggressive jerk once again.
 
Wherever you're at, I hope you take a little more time to nurture your spirit, so you can have your needs met, maintain your natural assertiveness, and be able to see, hear, and love yourself and others, far more easily. 
 
Wel close with a brief breathing meditation to help get us centered. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Euginia Herlihy said, “Comparison is the most poisonous element in the human heart because it destroys ingenuity, and it robs peace and joy.”

In my preadolescence, I was perfectly content with the life I had. Unfortunately, before I was out of my teens, I wished I could trade places with other people, and the amazing lives I thought they had.
  
Then, as I made the sad, lonely journey to my rock bottom, I began to unknowingly trade places with people who had it much worse than I.
  
Thankfully, one day I ended up in a meeting with people who used to despise themselves and want to trade lives with other people, just like I had.
 
But not anymore! They had rebuilt their lives and would teach me how to rebuild mine too.
 
Wouldn't you know it, after doing the work, cleaning up my mess, and beginning to live a clean, healthy life, I began to appreciate the life I had, and not want to trade it for anyone else's.
 
Nowadays, if I ever think I may want someone else’s life. All I have to do is go to a meeting, and at the end, when I walk out to that table with everyone’s bag of life's problems on it, I’ll grab mine every time.

How about you? 
 
Today we close with a body scan meditation to help bring us more focus and clarity. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Herman Hesse said, ““Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.”

For years I lived with one foot in my regretful past and one foot in the fearful future. I had no idea that way of living kept me from fully enjoying the present moment.
  
What a relief it was to find people in recovery who had the courage to do what it takes to let go of their struggles. I didn’t think I could do it at first. But thankfully, I stuck around long enough to do the work necessary to learn how to let go of my struggles too.
  
Cleaning up my past and laying down all that unnecessary baggage, was the only way I would ever forgive myself. Without it, I would never be able to be totally free, and fully embrace life.
  
All these years later I'm still doing the same prayer, meditation, inventory, amends, reading, meetings, and service process I learned when I first got here. It still works wonders in helping me let go of struggles quickly and effortlessly.
  
Whatever struggles you may be going through, remember, letting go isn’t the end of the world, it’s the beginning of a new life.

Today we close with a breathing meditation to help bring us more peace and serenity. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

I’m Kirk Waterman, thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Theodore Roosevelt said, “No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well-being, to risk his body, to risk his life, in a great cause.”

When I was young, my spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being were inner resources which allowed me to excel at nearly everything I did. I was so well grounded, they even helped me to be resilient in the face of adversity. 

Unfortunately, once my addictions took off, I lost all sense of personal responsibility, completely disregarding my well-being, and the well-being of those around me.

It took being homeless, helpless and hopeless to finally ask for help. I see now that it was only in that last bit of desperation, that I truly cared for my well-being. 

All these years later, recovery has taught me that wellness is the complete integration of body, mind, and spirit. It’s the realization that everything we think, feel, believe, and do influences our state of well-being, and the well-being of those around us.

I know the state of my well-being is a direct reflection of my actions in the program. The more action I take, the more grateful my heart, the more expressions of service, the more faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being I have.

Today, may you have the strength to do what is needed to fully take care of your well-being and the well-being of those around you. May you also leave enough time to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, and joyous

Today we’ll close with a peace meditation. 

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Osho said, “The first and foremost thing is to be loving toward yourself. Learn how to forgive yourself— again and again and again.”

When I was drinking and using, I rarely had compassion for myself. It was extra hard when I kept taking the same self-destructive action over and over and over.
  
What a relief it was when I found people in the rooms just like me, who had changed their behavior, cleaned up their pasts, and forgiven themselves. I hadn’t thought self-forgiveness was possible before that.
  
All these years later I’m grateful I was taught to look at my faults, clean-up the damage I have done, help others, and take the next right action. It's the only way I can be sure that no matter what happens, I will love, accept, and forgive myself.
  
Wherever you are on your path, today is the day to forgive yourself, love yourself and let yourself blossom like never before. Because forgiving yourself, believing in yourself, and choosing to love yourself, are the best gifts any of us can receive.
 
Today we close with a forgiveness meditation to bring more peace, love and forgiveness into our hearts and minds.

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A. J. Green said, “You just have to take a deep breath, relax and let the game come to you.

I recently reflected on how much life I lived when I was a kid. From sports to music, art, academics, science, dance, outdoor adventures, hobbies, clubs, debate, social, religion, theater, games, community service, employment, and school government. There wasn’t much I didn’t do.
  
But, as you look at the timeline of my drinking and using, you see activities slowly disappearing the further into the party lifestyle I fell. Near the end, when my alcoholism and addiction were in full bloom, my participation in life had dwindled to a bare minimum.
  
That’s the problem with alcoholism and addiction. They make an empty life, devoid of inspiration and participation, okay for far too long. Thankfully, when they no longer took away the pain of my miserable existence, I was brought to a fellowship of people who absolutely insisted on enjoying life!
  
So, I did what you suggested. I got a sponsor, a home group, a few commitments, and took the steps. All twelve of them. Sure enough, as I did the work in recovery, my life outside of recovery filled with activities faster than I could keep up.
  
Now, as I look back at these 30+ years of recovery, I see that addiction and recovery are opposites. Addiction removed, eliminated, amputated, and stripped away all that was good in my life. Recovery has enhanced, enlarged, enriched, and improved every area of my life.
  
Today I choose recovery! I’m going to keep living, participating as much as I possibly can, and take a big breath of life! How about you?

Today we close with a grounding meditation to provide us strength in any situation we may find ourselves. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

I’m Kirk Waterman, thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Sir James Jeans said, “The really happy person is the one who can enjoy the scenery, even when they have to take a detour.” 

When I was drinking and using, I thought failure, obstacles and sub optimal results, were the enemy. Rather than using them to adjust, improve, and avoid future pitfalls, I treated them as dead ends.
  
Then, after one more epic failure, I found myself in the rooms of recovery, with people talking about their failures the same way I used to glorify my successes. They were exposing their deep, dark secrets, accepting feedback, adjusting, and taking action to improve.
  
It seemed a bit extreme! But, once I got into the steps, I too shared the things I said I would never tell anyone. As my sponsor guided me through the prayer, meditation, amends, unity, recovery and service process of the program, I too began learning from my past and making dramatic improvements.  
 
All these years later, I have nothing to hide and no one to hide from. When I hit a dead end or something in my life doesn't work out the way I anticipated, I go to my people for feedback, make adjustments, and throw my hat back in the ring, usually with far better results.
  
Whatever failures you may have had or dead-ends you may hit, I promise, nothing is too great to overcome! What may at first appear as an obstacle, detour, or failure, can be the most groundbreaking, enriching, fruitful, clear, and direct path forward!

Here’s to failing big, learning big, and coming back better than ever!

Today we close with a grounding meditation to provide us strength in any situation we may find ourselves. So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

I’m Kirk Waterman, thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Godlessness suited me for many years. Then one day, with the pain of my sub optimal life too much to bear, I sincerely asked the universe for help. Just like that I was dropped in the God filled rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. 

When I said I didn’t believe in God and tried to make a run for it. They told me it doesn’t say anywhere we believe in God. They only believed that some power greater than me, could restore me to sanity. Well, it was going to take a power far greater than me to restore me to sanity. 

They also said if I sincerely do the work, all sorts of remarkable things will happen. I love remarkable! So, I stuck around, did the work, including praying to a God (Group of Dorks) I didn’t believe in, and remarkable things happened. 

I went from an angry, violent, godless, addicted sociopath, to a happy, productive, praying member of society. Far better than I could have ever planned, and a way of life that has brought me thirty wonderful years of living!

Whatever God or Higher Power you believe in or don’t believe in, I hope you give yourself a shot to have a remarkable life, just like me.

Today we close with one of the first, simple God meditations I learned, that works so very well. 

So please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join us.

Aloha :-)

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Roy T. Bennett said, “You will never follow your own inner voice until you clear up the doubts in your mind.” 

When I was a little boy, I trusted my intuition without question. It effortlessly led me to do the right thing, be the best person I could, and shine bright in nearly every situation I found myself.

Unfortunately, by time I was a drinking and using teenager, I had begun to lose touch with it. I would think I was using my intuition when I wasn’t and didn’t trust it when I should have. 

Thankfully when I finally made it to the rooms of recovery, I found people who had done the work to uncover their hearts, follow their intuition and shine as bright as I once did.

So, I did what they did, and cleared my heart of all the pain, hurt, shame, guilt, and judgement I could. Slowly but surely, I began to believe in myself and trust my intuition once again.

All these years later, the unity, recovery, and service of the 12 step programs have allowed me to hear my inner voice and be led by intuition once again. I believe this may be one of the most important things I’ve ever done.

I know that the more you trust your intuition, the more empowered you become, the stronger you become, and the happier you become. So, I say here’s to all of us staying grounded and trusting our intuition.

Today we’ll close with a grounding meditation, to bring us more peace, calm and focus.

I’m Kirk Waterman, thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Most of us in addiction recovery started over many times before we arrived here. My new beginnings usually followed some ugly wipe-out, full of self-imposed suffering, pain, hurt, and turmoil.
  
 When I finally made it to the rooms, you all told me that if I truly wanted a fresh start, all I had to do was follow through with the spiritual plan of action outlined in the steps. I didn’t believe it, but by time I finished the steps, my depressing past and anxiety riddled future, were distant memories.
  
 What began with zero belief in anything to do with recovery, turned into belief in the people, then belief in the recovery programs, and finally, belief in some God I hadn’t believed in before. After all was said and done, I evened started believing in myself.
  
 Wow!  Recovery, and the new beginning I thought was the end of my life, turned out to be the golden ticket of starting over!
  
 Wherever you are on your journey, know that you don’t have to go out and drink, use, or do anything else. You can start over now, and make today, be the best new beginning ever.

Today we close with a brief level up meditation. Thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Allanah Hunt said “It is only when you take responsibility for your life that you discover how powerful you truly are.”

I grew up thinking everything was someone else’s fault. I had no idea that by blaming everyone else, I was giving them all my power, and making them responsible for my happiness.

Thankfully, after years of condemning everyone I could, I wound up in an A.A. group that wouldn’t listen to my accusations. They told me that the day I moved out of my parents’ home, was the day to quit pointing fingers and take responsibility for my own life. 

They also told me that the moment I take responsibility for my life, everything in my life would change for the better. Wow! I was finally able to find peace as I realized that I had created the conditions of my life, and that I had the power to change them. 

All these years later, I know that responsibility is a gift and a grace I receive, not an obligation.

I may not be able to change any outside circumstance, but I can change myself, and that is blessing!

If you’re an addict or an alcoholic like me, personal responsibility is the first ingredient of true peace, happiness and freedom. After that it’s decisive optimism, consistent action, and abundant service.

Here’s to taking personal accountability for our lives and having complete control of our destinies!

Today we close with a simple, but effective breathing meditation to help bring calm our bodies, our hearts, and minds. 

I’m Kirk Waterman, thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Jeff Bezos said ““If you can't tolerate critics, don't do anything new or interesting.”

People loved, praised, and supported me most of my youth. I had lots of fans, and very few critics. But as my drinking, using and bad behavior escalated, I alienated more and more people, until one day I was all alone, with no more fans, just me, my biggest critic.

It wasn’t long before drugs and alcohol wouldn’t take away the pain of my miserable, isolated, lonely existence, that I reached out for help. And oh, did I get help. 

I told large groups of people the pain and madness I had brought into my and other people’s lives. They laughed and called me courageous. I shared with them the misery of being homeless and not being able to stop using, drinking, lying, cheating, and stealing. They laughed even more, then called me brave.

Who were these people? I had been beating myself up, talking poorly to myself about myself for a long time, and they were telling me to ‘be easy on myself’ and to ‘quit beating myself up’.

They even showed me a couple of A.A. prayers that I thought were for when I was mad at other people and had me say them for myself. Then they taught me how to clean up all the messes I had made, and how to help people coming in behind me do the same for themselves. 

When I got to the end of the steps and looked back, it was like my dirty, dark past had been cleaned up by a professional cleaning crew. Not only that, I had quit criticizing myself and everyone around me, had rooms full of fans, and had become your biggest fan too.

It’s hard to keep going when no one is clapping for you, and no one is supporting you. But, when we jump in the middle of the pack, do the work, and start helping others do the work too, the critics go away and the fans come out of the woodwork.

Wherever you are, whatever you’ve been doing, join us, so you can stop being your worst critic and get a room full of fans!

Today we close with a brief, relaxation meditation.

I’m Kirk Waterman, thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Tony Robbins said,“Set goals, take precise action, and turn the outcome over. That’s one way to turn the invisible into the visible.”

I did a lot when I was young. But as I got older, fear grew stronger and stronger, and I needed to drink and use to get anything meaningful accomplished. 

Finally, I reached the point where I didn’t care whether I lived or died. There was nothing more I could do, and I thought the world would be better off without me.

Then and only then, with the sincerest plea I could make, I begged the universe for help, and turned everything I had over, to whatever God may be out there. 

Sure enough, from death’s doorstep and the gates of hell, I was rescued and given a second chance at life. And what a chance it’s turned out to be.

What started out as treatment for an insidious physical, mental, and spiritual disease, turned into a blessed life full of peace, love, happiness, and laughter.

If you have anything going on that isn’t suiting you, I urge you to turn it over, and join us. It will be well worth the ride!

Today we close with a simple breathing meditation to bring us relaxation and comfort.

Thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Lucia Berlin said,“Fear, poverty, alcoholism, and loneliness are terminal illnesses. Emergencies, in fact.”

During my drinking and using days, I always had some type of crisis going on. I acted like they were big emergencies, hijacked everyone around me, and got them to buy in to my self-created drama.
  
 Truth be told, when I was in my cups, I fled from your emergencies. My biggest emergency was, I kept burning down my own life. Thankfully, when all that was left of that life was a smoldering pile of embers, I found the rooms of recovery.
  
 Once here, I thought I was going to learn how to control my drinking and using without letting life get to emergency crisis mode. Instead, I found happy people, walking through life with grace and dignity, not needing to drink or use drugs to manage anything.
  
 So, I stuck around, did what they did, and got similar results. I not only learned tools to mitigate my future emergencies, but to also bring peace, love, and strength to other people’s emergencies.
  
 Today, I know that foxhole prayer, meditation, and service will occasionally help during an emergency. But, when we stick together, and do the work consistently, everything we ever need is available to us, anytime we need it.

We close with the 11th step st francis prayer meditation to help bring us more peace and love to our hearts and minds.

I’m Kirk Waterman, thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Timothy Radman said,“If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it could be a really ugly swan.”

During my party days I thought reacting to whatever was going on around me, was a strength. The reality was, I was an overemotional drunk, who no longer helped in a crisis, I became the crisis.
  
 Once I finally made it to recovery, instead of finding a bunch of ugly ducklings like me, there were rooms full of beautiful swans. Happy and useful, graciously gliding through the waters of life.
 
 Little did I know, while you all looked calm and serene, you were dedicating nearly every moment of your lives to recovery. Not only your recovery, but the recovery of lots of other people. And the results were beautiful!
  
 So beautiful, that I started to do what you were doing. A little at first, then a little more... Slowly but surely, I started feeling the same peace and calm you had. So much so, that I took to recovery the same way you did, like a duck to water.
  
 All these years later, taking consistent action in recovery is just like being a duck. While we appear calm on the surface, we’re always paddling like the dickens underneath.
 
 Today I say, let’s not just quack like a duck, let’s do all the work, so we can soar like an eagle.

We close with a brief 12-stp meditation to help bring us patience, tolerance, kindliness and love.

I’m Kirk Waterman, thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Marcus Garvey said“People without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture, are like trees without roots.”

All my years of drinking and using brought me the big fat sum, of an addicted, miserable life. Thankfully, when that life finally became unbearable, I was brought to a very successful addiction treatment and recovery facility. 

The specialists there helped me identify, treat, and begin to heal from the deeply rooted trauma and pain that had been fueling my life for years. They also taught me tools to continue to heal, recover, and successfully walk through life without having to drink, use, or act out.

All these years later I’ve been blessed with a long, amazing life in recovery, using the tools I learned way back then. If that wasn’t enough, I’ve also been fortunate to teach others to use those same tools to treat and recover from the deeply rooted issues that drove them into addiction.

No matter where you are, what you’ve done, or what’s been done to you, the tools to treat and recover from the deeply rooted issues that fueled your addiction, are here for you too. 

Today we close with a courage meditation to help bring us strength and courage. 

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Debasish Mridha said“Always keep in mind how you can best use this time that you call life.”

During my first year of recovery, I was lucky to find a job that provided me with a set schedule. It allowed me to establish the consistent recovery schedule my sponsor recommended, which he said, included the most essential activities needed for me to recover. 
 
Since I drank and took drugs daily, my sponsor also had me doing as many of the program related activities daily too. Thankfully, he also stressed the importance of making time for self-care and relaxation.
 
So, after finally giving in to what seemed like unnecessarily strict time management, I began to notice that my life was getting exponentially better and I was really enjoying this new sobriety.
 
Don’t get me wrong, there were many times over that first year when I began to deviate from my sponsor’s plan. But each time, something unpleasant seemed to happen to someone around me in the program, and it reinforced I was on the right path. 
 
Thankfully, I stuck to his plan and completed the twelve steps. 
 
Wouldn’t you know it, alcohol and drugs were removed from my life, my spirit healed significantly, and I found a way of life that worked far better than any I had tried before, and I had tried a lot.
 
All these clean and sober years later, you can look at the course of my life and see that when I’ve been most successful and most content, I’ve used the same “first things first” time management plan my sponsor taught me in my first year of recovery.
 
Sure, we all know that using time wisely is an essential component of any truly successful life. But in addiction recovery, it’s even more vital for us to prioritize responsibilities, avoid distractions, set goals, take care of ourselves, and use our time wisely if we want to have any chance for true peace and happiness.
 
Whatever you do, I hope you use your time wisely, so you can maximize your chance for success, have a healthier, more fulfilling life, and watch your dreams turn into plans, your plans turn into goals, and your goals turn into magnificent accomplishments.
 
Today we close with a brief mantra meditation to keep us grounded in the present moment. 

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Lawrence Welk said“There are good days and there are bad days, and this is one of them.”

When I was drinking and using, I wanted every day to be a good day. But the further I fell into my alcoholism and addiction, the fewer good days I had, and the more I needed to drink and use just to make it through the bad days.

Thankfully, when I finally made it to the rooms of recovery, the people here knew that bad days were an inevitable part of life. For addicts and alcoholics, it's especially important to make the most of the bad days, as they so often can be a catalyst for growth and change. 

They also taught me that bad days were an opportunity for self-reflection, a chance to practice coping skills, and a means of gaining perspective. When I was having a bad day I could take a step back, examine my thoughts and emotions, and gain a better understanding of myself and what's causing my discomfort.

When any of us are having a bad day, it can feel like the world is against us. However, taking a step back and gaining perspective can help us realize that our challenges are temporary and that things will get better. Bad days can also help us stay motivated, keep us moving forward, build confidence and better equip us to handle future challenges.

If you’re struggling today, you can always slow down, take a walk, say a prayer, call someone less fortunate than you, and do whatever you can to make the most of today.

Remember, bad days are crucial for our personal growth and well-being. When we embrace our challenges, we develop stronger coping skills, gain new perspectives, and become more resilient.

Here’s to making the great days great and the bad days even better!

Today we’ll close with a short breathing meditation to bring us peace and clarity.

Thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Steven Chuks said“A man that has not dealt with his foundation cannot deal with another man's foundation.”
 
 When I was very young, my parents and God were my anchors. But, once my parents’ actions began to negatively affect me, I quit believing in them or their God, and began looking for new anchors to keep me grounded. 
 
First it was athletics, then it was my girlfriend and her family, then it was my job, and eventually it became drugs, alcohol, and my “party” friends. But, as I fell further and further into my addiction, the anchors I relied upon slowly began to disappear. Before you knew it, all that was left were alcohol and drugs.
 
Then, one day everything quit working and the suboptimal life I was living was no longer bearable. Thankfully, it was then, that I was brought to the rooms of 12 step recovery. 

Here I found people who had once been just like me, that were using the 12 steps, some higher power, and a tight community to build lives far better than any I had. So, I did the same things they were doing to build a new foundation for my life. 

All these years later, the 12 steps, the recovery community, service, and a higher power, are still the foundational anchors for my life. They’ve helped me successfully navigate every challenge put in front of me, provided me a sense of purpose, meaning and fulfillment, and brought me peace, happiness, and contentment, regardless of any circumstances I’ve been in.
 
If your life is amazing and your foundational anchors are properly in place, keep doing what you’re doing. But, if your life isn’t as amazing as you’d like, or your foundational anchors aren’t as secure as they need to be. Grab ahold of us and use ours, so you can live a wonderful too.

Today we close with one of the foundational meditations I learned in my first year of recovery, the St Francis 11th Step Prayer. 

Thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Albert Camus said “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” 
 
There was a time I was totally free and had enormous amounts of bravery. But once I fell into the spiral of addiction, the liberty I previously enjoyed and acts of heroism I once displayed, began to diminish rapidly.
 
Then I ended up in 12-Step recovery and found people bravely walk through their fears, cleaning up their pasts, and reclaiming their freedom. So I too, walked through my fears and reluctantly did all the unity, recovery and service everybody else was doing.
 
Sure enough, like those before me, I was able to reclaim some of the courage and independence that had eluded me for so long in my addiction. I also found a way of life that worked, no matter how much fear I had, or how restricted I felt.
 
All these years later, what began with the smallest amount of courage, has turned into unlimited amounts of freedom. and unexpected bravery.
 
Wherever you are, no matter how much fear you may have, or whatever may be holding you back, all you need is the smallest amount of bravery to get started on your path to freedom.
 
So don't give up!

Today we close with a brief meditation on patience, tolerance, kindliness and love.

Thank you for joining us. Aloha!

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Viola Davis said "Your ability to adapt to failure, and navigate your way out of it, absolutely 100 percent makes you who you are." 

Recovery has taught me that we aren't forgiven just because we promise to be good from now on. We have to earn our way back, and giving everything we’ve got, one hundred percent, is the price.
 
My one hundred percent started with me admitting my addiction, then moved into a one hundred percent effort to go through all twelve steps while clean up the mess of my past life with everything I had. 

I didn’t like it at first, but today it seems like a small price to pay to get to be whole again. Do 100% of the work with 100% of our effort for as long as it takes and we get 100% of the rewards. Forgiveness, understanding, peace, freedom, happiness, love, truth, hope, faith, community, light, joy, comfort, security, and so much more.
 
The beautiful thing is, when we do one hundred percent of the twelve steps, we're provided 'the elements of a living which answer all our problems', and more often than not, given a life that is far superior to the one we had before.
 
Today I choose one hundred percent. I want to be able to say 'I did everything I could. There was nothing more I could do. I gave everything I had, and my life is a reflection of that.'
 
 How about you?

We close with a brief meditation to bring us peace and freedom.

Thank you for joining us. 

Aloha!

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 John Wooden said "Failure isn't fatal, but failure to change might be"

  When I was young, I did most everything with a full, open heart, not caring how well I did or what anyone thought of me... As my addiction grew, fear of failure began to limit my risk taking, and my life grew smaller and smaller.  By time I arrived at the doors of recovery, I was locked in fear, afraid to do anything that I wasn’t sure of a positive outcome beforehand
  
 Once I got to the rooms, I saw people closing the doors on their pasts and using them as springboards for a brighter future. I was reminded that those who don’t take chances, risk failure, and put it all on the line, can rarely achieve greatly. 

So, I followed your lead, and took the lessons from my failures to create a new life.

That life has not been what I thought it would be when I first arrived. It’s been risks, rewards, success, failure, happiness, sadness, victory, loss, peace, freedom, and more contentment than I imagined. I never thought that everything I ever wanted, was on the other side of fear and failure.
  
Failure’s important. We speak about success all the time. But it’s the ability to learn from our failures that often leads to our greatest success. I know that’s the way it’s been for me…

Failure is not defeat. It’s a delay, a temporary detour, not the end of the road or a dead end., but most often, a beginning…
  
So I urge you, please do not be afraid of failure! Take risks and learn that there will be times when you succeed and there will be times when you fail. Both are equally important. If we don’t take risks, we can’t fail. It takes courage and risks to lead the life you want.
  
So please, dare greatly, fail greatly, find the freedom we all deserve, and live the life of your dreams!

Today we close with a five-minute breathing meditation to bring us more peace and freedom.

Aloha :-) 

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Today we close with a gratitude meditation to help bring peace and love into our hearts and minds. 

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Then I met people in recovery who knew that fear was simply an opportunity to begin again. Only this time, using new tools, doing it more intelligently, and walking through them together.

All these years later I know that fears are really messengers. There’s a new opportunity, something I’m supposed to do, or something I’m supposed to learn. Rather than being afraid of fear, I let fear do its job.

Once I recognize and identify my fear, I pray, meditate, write, and talk to people in my recovery crew. Then I do a little service and get the strength to walk through the fear so I can grow into a better version of myself.

When it’s all said and done, I say, "Thank you fear. Thank you for bringing my attention to something I didn't know about myself and for giving me this opportunity. Thank you!

If fear is holding you back, know that every day is a new opportunity to overcome fear. We can build on yesterday's success, put fear behind us, and together make today an amazing day. That's the way life in recovery is. 

We close with a brief meditation to help us overcome fear. 

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Bill Keane said “Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.”  

I was a fool when I was running the streets. I let opportunity after opportunity slip through my fingers, like I had all the time in the world to do something great.
  
 Thankfully, when there was nothing left but darkness, time stopped, recovery shined like a beacon in the night, and I was drawn in like a moth to a flame.
  
 All these years later, recovery has blessed me with many opportunities to be useful, make a difference, and contribute to something far greater than me.
 
 If you’re reading this today, know that it’s your time!
  
 Time for you to be your best, time for you to make an impact, time for you to be the person you’ve always wanted to be, and time for you to live the life you’ve always wanted to live.
  
 So go out there, give your best, help where you can, and be the change you want to see. At the end of the day, you won’t need any excuses or explanations, because you’ll know, it’s your time!

Today we close with a brief love and compassion meditation 

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James Anthony Fraude said “You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.” ― 

I had big dreams when I was a kid. I was going to do something important and make a difference in the world. But, once my addiction took over, my childhood dreams were gone, and making a difference or contributing anything useful to society, no longer mattered.
  
When I finally made it to the rooms, I found a group of former misfits who had righted their wrongs and were traveling roads of meaning and substance. Not only that, many of them had created new, brilliant lives, setting magnificent courses for destinations unknown.
  
Thankfully, they took me under their wing, and gave me the strength and direction to do the same. And what a ride it’s been! All these years later, I’m stepping off the sidewalk again, and forging another new, beautiful, uncharted path.
  
If you’ve strayed off the path or come to the end of another road, don't give up! We’re here for you and will do whatever we can to help you successfully navigate your next adventure.

So enjoy the ride!

Today we close with the 11th Step St Francis Prayer Meditation from Alcoholics Anonymous.

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Charlotte Eriksson said “I will never lose the love for the arriving, but I'm born to leave.” 
 
 At the end of my drinking and using, I felt worthless, all my past glory was gone, I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere, and there was nothing left to celebrate.

I was so desperate and damaged when I arrived in the rooms, that I listened to people with all my might, as if my life depended on it.  Thankfully, the people I met listened to me with all their might too. They made me feel important, like I had finally arrived.

That acceptance, support, and love they showed me, carried me through the challenges of early recovery; especially taking the steps, cleaning up my past, and finding my place in this new community I had been dropped into.  

As I look back over my years of sobriety, I see a bunch of different plateaus I’ve “arrived” at. But the brightest and most fulfilling, are always the ones where I was surrounded by the fellowship, active in the steps and doing as much service as I possibly could.
  
 Wherever you are on your journey, jump in the middle of us and get busy! Then dream, create, be daring, be brave, but most importantly, be the you, you’ve always wanted to be and don't care about what people say. Because wherever you are, you have arrived…..

Today we’ll close with a brief, relaxing meditation.

Aloha 😊

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Today we close with a brief meditation to regenerate, rejuvenate and restore.

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We close with a breathing meditation to help bring us peace, happiness, and freedom. 

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Thankfully, addiction recovery provides us with every tool we need to successfully navigate the ups and downs of life without having to drink, use, or cause harm to ourselves or anyone else. It also gives us the strength to walk through anything put before us, be true to ourselves, forge our own unique path and build the life we always wanted to have. 

If you're listening this today, know there will always be obstacles and challenges that stand in our way. But, when we’re truly committed, recovery provides us the spiritual strength and resilience to traverse any hazard we face and successfully touch the stars we never reached for while we were drinking, using, and running amuck. So please join us on the road less traveled. Aloha

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In this episode we talk about resolutions, or so-called new beginnings. Before sobriety most of my new beginnings only came about either because of some painful ending, or if I knew the outcome was going to be hugely successful before I even started.  

But in recovery, I’ve learned that each day is a new beginning, and every day is a gift. No matter where we are in our recovery, it’s never too late to become who and what we want to be. It doesn’t matter how challenging your past was. If you’re alive, listening to this, there’s a world of new opportunities right at your fingertips.

Today we close with a brief strength mantra meditation to help us successfully make it through anything we may be going through. Listen to learn that you’re not the only one who’s had to start over and that today’s as good a day as any to begin again.  

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Listen to hear that no matter where we’re at in recovery, today you can start making your life much better way better than it’s ever been. We close with a breathing meditation to help us bring us calm, ease, peace, and freedom. 

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Listen to hear that no matter where we’re at, we can quickly turn the negative into a positive. We close with a basic, yet powerful 12 step meditation to help us restore and give us a little more strength to get through the day. 

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Everything can change in 24 hours. Our pain, our suffering, our loneliness, our spirit, our outlook, our appreciation, the list goes on and on. What’s going to be different for you today? Listen to find where you’re at and what you should do about it. You may surprise yourself and get to close with a healing meditation to help us restore and give us a little more strength to get through the day. 
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Join us today to look at what is Cali Sober. To find out if you’re Cali Sober. And to know that either way, it’s all right, just for today!  After the discussion, we’ll close with the brief courage meditation to give us a bit more strength to get through the day.

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What about you? What trial or tribulation are you facing today? Whatever it is, don't worry. Listen to this episode and find out that together, we can find peace in the middle of life’s storms, and see the rainbows after they've passed. We close with a brief peace meditation.

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One surrender can turn your world upside down and get things going in the right direction. If there’s still something you’re holding onto, listen to get the strength you need to surrender and joining the winning team. We close with the brief gratitude meditation lift us up and give us a bit more strength..

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Your one wonderful act may start a chain reaction of wonderful acts happening for many other people. Let’s make today the most important day of our lives and somebody else’s. We close with the St. Francis prayer meditation help lift us up. Listen to learn that today is an amazing day for you and everyone you meet!

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In this episode we shine a little light on starting over and new beginnings. We don’t like to let our past hold us down or our future hold us back. We talk about living a life we’re proud of and making a new start if we’re not. We close with a brief strength mantra meditation to help us successfully make it through anything we may be going through. Listen to learn that you’re not the only one who’s had to start over and that today’s as good a day as any to begin again.  

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We give some definitions of insanity, plus a few of the quotes we often hear about it. We also talk about some of the tools we use to stay on the right side of insanity and close with a brief level up meditation to help keep us a little more sane. Listen to learn that you’re not the only one that can go sideways and get a few tools to help keep you a little more level headed today.

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We arrived in recovery with our defects flourishing. Full of fear, doubt, guilt, shame, anger, sadness, and humiliation. Not humiliation from what others said or did, but from what we had done and who we had become. 

All these years later, life, with all its trials and tribulations, still happens. How I respond to those trials and tribulations defines my character. My peace and happiness lie in the quality of my integrity, the goodness of my actions, and the benefit I bring to others’ lives.

If you’re struggling with being entirely ready, humbly asking for help, or some other challenge. Don’t be discouraged! We’ve all been there. 

Today’s as good a day as any to become entirely ready, humbly ask, or make a sincere attempt

We close with a brief fear and courage meditation.

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Our actions shape our spirit, and our spirit shapes our mind, our heart, our character, and our beliefs. The shape or our spirit determines what type of channel we are to the world. If our spirits are whole, strong, and free, we will channel positivity, strength, and freedom. But if our spirit is broken, weak, and restricted, we will channel dysfunction, weakness, and control.

What is the state of your spirit? What are you channeling to others?

There’s an amazing, uplifting life right here for all of us. Whatever lies ahead, our actions will dictate what spirit we bring and the type of channel we are.

How are you going to use your channel? To uplift and include, or oppress and hate? I choose to take positive action so I can be a channel of strength, unlimited possibility, and love.

Have a great week!

We close with a brief peace and love meditation.

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