ABCs of Thanksgiving

[MajestyJo]

Z is for Zest. Put some zest in your step. Be grateful that you are alive and have a second chance at life. Don't let all go for nothing, zip, zero, if you aren't enjoying recovery, what are you doing wrong. When you isolate the spirit, the light goes out.

[dwmoeller]

A is for AA

I'm thankful for AA and the 12 steps of recovery. It teaches me the tools of recovery that I need to stay sober.

[MajestyJo]

B is for Bountiful. The Blessings are bountiful if we but look for them. It is surprising as to where they turn up. Don't turn a blind eye. Remember, that is not odd, that is God!

Remember, it is my morning. It is always morning some where. We can start our day any time. Think of all that we miss if we are not present in the moment, no matter what time of day it is.

[MajestyJo]

C is for Care. Care for others but don't take on their 'stuff' - we can listen, but it isn't our job to fix. We need to care for ourselves, top ourselves up, and only give away the overflow. It is okay to be a caretaker as long as you take care of yourself first.

[dwmoeller]

D is for Daily Meditation that keeps me sober

Thankful for books like Daily Reflections, Just for Today, 24 hours a day, Day by Day. They keep me focused on my recovery and helps me to live one day at a time.

[dwmoeller]

E is for Exercise

I'm thankful that I can exercise my soul in 3 ways:

1. I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out. If anybody knows of it, it doesn't count.

2. I will do at least 2 things I don't want to do-- just for exercise.

3. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt. They may be hurt, but today I will not show it.

[MajestyJo]

F is for First Things First. First comes my sobriety. It is first before family and friends, because without my program, I have no sobriety and no family and friend in my life.

One Step at a time.

[MajestyJo]

G is for Grace. But for the Grace of God, I don't think I would be living today. Ironically, my name JoAnne, means God's gracious gift. That use to be a big ego trip when I was younger. In today, I try not to play God with my life or that of others. I try to let Him do His job.

[MajestyJo]

H is for Honest. I can honestly say, "I had a great day." I had pain, but not enough to stop me from doing what I needed to do. I know I need to practice self-honesty, because I can't be honest with others, if I can't be honest with myself.

[MajestyJo]

I is for Inner Self. Get in touch with your Inner Self. Give the Inner Child the healing, the love, and the attention that she/he felt that was missing from your life. We have so many hurts that we buried and didn't let out. Let go and let God and live in today.

Get a puppy or a pet of some kind. Go to the playground and have a swing. Go for a walk and just enjoy your day, and if you feel like taking a skip or two, go for it.

[MajestyJo]

J is Joy. If you aren't enjoying recovery, what are you doing wrong? You have freedom of choice. Choose joy, not sadness. Choose living, not hell!

[MajestyJo]

K is for Keep coming back. Not just coming back to AA or the Fellowship of your choice, but keep coming to meetings. Keep calling your sponsor. Keep working the program, It works when you work for it. Keep coming, so you don't have to come back

They say if you haven't done a Step Four and Five, you are setting yourself up for relapse.

[MajestyJo]

L is for Limits. Don't limit yourself. You limit your God by how much you turn over to Him. When we put barriers and blocks up and in active addiction, we block our God from reaching us.

[MajestyJo]

M is for Memories. Thanks for the memories, good and not so good. I need to remember when, but life wasn't always about good or bad, life was generally made up of a multitude of experiences. All things we can learn from and not make the same mistake again.

They say the elephant never forgets. I should be so lucky. As the butterfly says, "I need to transform the negative into a positive.

[MajestyJo]

N is for Notions. We do get notions and ideas in our head. I found it best to run them by my Higher Power to see if they are valid. Is it my God talking to me or me having a one way conversation, talking to myself and telling myself what I want to hear. Me alone with me can be bad company, when I have NO one to agree or disagree with me.