Author: Dennis W.

Yesterday I learned of the passing of our friend Attila M. He was 56 years old. It was unexpected, at least by me.

He was a very likable guy with a big heart. He was passionate about his recovery. We traveled the same path for over a quarter century.

In my estimation, he was too young to leave us. I have to think that God was pleased with Attila and decided it was time to take him.

I will miss him. I will miss his hugs.

May God Care for the soul and the memory of our friend Attila. May he rest in peace. Amen.

God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.

When I finally came to the realization that I’m not alone, it gave me hope.

I found people meeting in church basements. They described how they felt. They felt like I did.

When they described their journey and how they saved their own lives, I wanted what they have.

Being willing to save my own life, I followed them. They led me to a God of my understanding. They saved my life.

God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.

When I was younger, time couldn’t pass fast enough. I was always looking forward, impatiently.

As I get older, time seems to pass too fast. I no longer have “all the time in the world”.

I have more days behind me than I have ahead of me. That makes me appreciate each day a little more.

Starting each day with some quiet time to connect with God helps to calm my soul. It helps me to stay in the moment and live today as it unfolds.

Tomorrow will come too fast anyway. I can’t control that.

God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.

My greatest weakness has brought me to my greatest strength.

When it comes to substance abuse, I am weak. Once I start using I cannot stop. I can’t help it.

Once I was given a reprieve and a way to live without the substances, I found that I needed to rely upon God.

Reliance upon God changes everything for me. In good times and bad, I see that God is carrying me.

My faith in God has become my greatest strength.

God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.

Being sober has become a condition of my happiness – not the other way around.

Being happy is not a condition of my sobriety. If it was, then I would drink over every bump in the road.

Being sober is certainly a condition of my happiness. My life sucks when I drink.

When I decide that life is too hard, that is my decision. I can sit around and look for sympathy or I can get back to work.

Yes, sometimes changing my perspective requires me to work on my attitudes. It may not change the reality of my life but it can change how I feel about it.

God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.

Often I think I’m doing the best I can. In reality, it’s often an excuse to not do more.

There are always opportunities to help someone else. It usually doesn’t require heavy lifting. It usually requires only a little attention.

Reaching out to another person to let them know I care may be the difference between a bad day and a good day – for both of us.

It might even save their life. It happened with me. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am grateful for all of the Blessings in my life today.

It would take a long time for me to write a “Gratitude List” because of the many Blessings in my life.

I’m grateful for the struggles because they make me humble and appreciate what I have.

I’m grateful for the people in my life because I am able to love them and they can love me.

I’m grateful for Hope because without it, I would never have lived long enough to experience this wonderful, sober life.

I am grateful for God in my life. It was through hardship that I was able to see the Love and Grace of God.

I have so much more than I need. I am truly Blessed.

God, if I can’t have what I want, please help me to want what I have.

God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.

The desire to drink has been lifted from me. That overwhelming obsession has not returned. It’s not a struggle anymore.

For me, picking up a drink to solve a problem is like using gasoline to put out a fire. But that’s rational thinking. My alcoholism isn’t an intellectual problem.

My alcoholism is a spiritual problem which requires a spiritual solution.

Turning to God and asking for His Help is the only way I know. 

When I remember that, I’m spared. When I forget that, I’m doomed.

God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.

Isolating myself from others keeps me away from God.

Connecting with others gets me closer to God.

I think that’s a pretty good barometer of where I am spiritually.

I can pray all day and never hear God’s message if I don’t avail myself to it. I need to remember that God speaks to me through others.

God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.

When I finally stopped drinking, I was scared to death.

I was afraid that I could not live without alcohol in my life.

I was afraid that I would drink again and bring back the misery that came with it.

I was afraid because I didn’t know what was going to happen to me.

I was afraid that I would always be unhappy.

God put people into my life to show me the way. I cannot explain why I believed them. I guess I had few options.

God has done for me what I could not do for myself.

God, please help me to be ok today. Thank You. Amen.