Accepting Life
 

Doesn't get much better than that. Surrender to win! Surrender isn't giving up, it is giving over to the God of our understanding. When I turn it over, I know that comes my way is from my God, and I can accept it in the moment. It is always good to remember that I don't have to like it in order to accept it.

Acceptance is the key to my sobriety. When I accept what is in the moment, knowing it is subject to change, I can find peace and serenity in today.

Hope members will share their experience, strength and hope on this topic.

I am going through a lot of changes with the change of my medication. Haven't gotten to a place where I am truly accepting of the new. I was not accepting of the old and asked my doctor repeatedly to take me off of it. It took talking to my pharmacist who sent him a fax to say that I shouldn't be on it.

The new medication is working wonders on pain but doesn't eliminate all pain. In comparison to what it was, it seems like none until I get days like today that rains all day. I have been labelled with many things. They are just that labels and I don't allow them to constrict my daily life. I do inspite of them because they can be limiting. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, polymyalgia (from rheumatoid family so I have been told), osteo arthritis. I have gout, and pseudo gout in my feet, knees, back, hands and shoulders. I have degnerative disk disorder. I have neuralgia in my face and neuropathy in my feet from the diabetes. I was told that I probably suffer from PTSD and AADD. I have suffered from chronic pain for years and it was why I used. The 12 Steps are applicable to all areas of my life. I could no longer use safely. There are some medications I have to take, but I dont misuse and abuse them. I take them under doctor's orders and I make sure my doctors, specialist, etc. are aware of the fact that I am a recovering addict/alcoholic. They say to get rid of the tremon disorder, all I would have to do was pick up a drink of liquor and it would be gone. That is not an option, so we are in need of an alternative.

I think the shaking in my hands is from the previous medication and not caused by the new. I will be trying patiently to wait to see the neurologist on November 2nd.

With the eye surgery pending, I have a lot of things to wait on. My eye appears to be getting worse if I use it too much. The monitor and the lights in my kitchen are really hard on it.

As soon as I find that I acceptance, things move forward and the change can come into being. It is a process and doesn't happen over night. The five As of change: Aware I have a challenge, admit to myself, to my God and a friend, the nature of my issue. My sponsor always said, "Problems you can stay stuck in, challenges you can overcome." Then you have to accept what is, you don't have to like it, you don't even have to do anything but accept it for what it is in the moment, knowing it is subject to change. It is what it is, and of myself, there is nothing I can do about it. Then I need to take action to bring about change which will give me a change of attitude concerning the issue. Or I have to change the attitude, so i can take action necessary to bring about change.

It is also part of the grieving process. When ever there is a change in our life, a loss of any kind, it doesn't have to be a death. It can be a change in routine, a health issues, a change of job or moving to a new residents, it can be a diet, a detour to work, a habit and a routine that no longer serves us.

Early recovery is about grief work that you need to go through with a sponsor. The loss of our drug of choice that use to be our best friend and became our greatest enemy. It was my support and way of coping until it took over my life, and I lost me in the process. I had the grieve the girl that was. I had to grieve the girl I became. I had to grieve what I could no longer have in my life to stay clean and sober. I had to make healthy choices and I needed to accept that I could get by without that old crutch, that old 'friend' and/or that old place that I use to frequent.

One day at a time, it does get better.

Mine was nil, mostly because for most of my life that I wasn't acceptable. I was this creature with so much wrong with her, how could anyone, let alone myself accept me. I came from a very low place, and I am so grateful for the program and the opportunity to rebuild my life.

Just for today: Self-acceptance is a process set in motion by the Twelve Steps. Today, I will trust the process, practice the steps, and learn to better accept myself.

Recovery is a process, just for today, I choose to work the program. Through working the program, I can grow into the person I would like to be and who is liked by others.

Service had a big part of my recovery and it was through it that I found that self-esteem and self-acceptance.

Through the program, I could pass through the darkness into the sunshine. I am no angel, but my guardian angel leads and guides me.

Until I can find that place of acceptance, I stay stuck. I don't have to like it, I just have to accept what is in the moment, knowing it is subject to change, which can be negative or positive.

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"When we accept ourselves, we can accept others into our lives, unconditionally probably for the first time."

IP No. 19, "Self-Acceptance"

This is my favorite NA pamphlet. When I saw that today, I had a little chuckle. I got up today and looked in the mirror and said, "What a hag!" Not a lot of self-acceptance there.

I was sharing with my sponsor earlier and we both agreed, it is all about today. We both feel that we need this program just as much now as we did when we came into the program. She just celebrated 34 years sober last month. I phoned to apologize for missing her anniversary. It isn't wheel chair accessible, but in the past, I have always phoned. As she said, "She needed to hear from me in today, so it is good that I called.

She is 74 years old and I am two months off of being 70, and it was a big thing for both of us to find that self-acceptance. She does Reiki, and taught me a lot about self-healing and about changing my outlook, habit and attitude about life.

I reminded her of when I was 2 years sober and wanting to go to the top of the CIBC building which was newly built and saying, "Hey people, I have found this new way of living, let me tell you all about it." I wanted to tell the world. Here I am in today sharing with the world.

I know in today that I am an addict. That applies to all areas of my life. She has a copy of the Emotions Anonymous book and I hope to get a loan of it one of these days. I did have some pamphlets at one time, not sure if they are around or not. It is the emotional side of my recovery that I need to work on, for me it is the thinking behind the substance I choose to pick up in today. Today, I accept where I am at in today, knowing that all things are subject to change.

These are posts I made on another site.

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When I read the reading from Just for Today, I thought it was the answer to most of my life.

For so many years, I have just accepted that there will be pain and there was nothing I could do about it. I never considered the source and I am not sure anything can be done about it.

As my arthritis finds it's way to more spots and escalates in my body, I will have to find more acceptance and be willing to make changes in my life. I just can't do what I use to do, the way I use to do it and when I want to do it.

Recovery taught me to accept my addiction, through that acceptance I learned to accept other things in my life. Accept what is in the moment, knowing it is subject to change. I don't have to like it. I don't have to know what it is. I don't have to know what is causing it. I just have to know it is!

Have reach out to different sources over the years, the Holistic Center has been life saving for me.

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This was the same sentiments I had when I went to the Holistic Center today. Willing to let go, willing to receive, asking for help and open to the Creator's Will.

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Accept me as I am I have no guarantee.

A claim to perfection I have not. Perfect I cannot be.

I, like you.....am human. Prone to make mistakes.

Failure is not a character flaw, Just a part of the human makeup.

I live, I laugh and I also learn. My knowledge is incomplete.

I am searching all the time, in waking hours as well as sleep.

I have a long road to travel, as well as you do.

We learn our lessons on the way. Wisdom we shall accrue.

So please accept me as I am Because I am .... Just me.

No one like me in the world. That is my only guarantee.

This is how I feel I have a heart, open it and see
Please take care That's all I am, just me.


--Author Unknown

That is what recovery is all about, changing my thoughts, responses, and actions, so that the old me doesn't act out in my disease by going back into old patterns and behaviours.

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Acceptance of others is easier for me than of where I am in the moment. I also find that when I don't listen to myself, I get resentful. Often that puts me in places, with others, that I wish not to be around. Accepting of them, tolerance is another matter. I am grateful for the knowledge of knowing where people come from, yet have very little acceptance and tolerance for those who excuse their behavior by saying, "I'm an alcoholic you know?" I am an adult child, what do you expect? I am an addict, that is what addicts do. Recovery is about change and not staying in old behaviour, about moving ahead and not going back to where I came from. So, you can see, I can still be judgmental, yet I am my hardest critic!

Knowingness is such a powerful thing. To be able to be in the 'know' instead of the chaos and uncertainty of active addiction, be it living with my own, or someone else's. Being at one with oneself, in the know with what is best for me it a great gift. I lived my life through other people for so many years and I had no identity of my own.

Serenity and being comfortable with myself is certainly a God given gift of this program, through working the Steps, I not only found God, I found myself.

Acceptance is the key to all areas of recovery, it doesn't matter what substance you use, be it people, places, and/or things.

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When one door closes, another door opens. It's waiting in the hallway that's hell. I am not a slow learner. I am just, sometimes, a slow accepter.

Pocket Sponsor - Book


This really speaks volumns to me. I am aware, that another door opens, sometimes a window and to my way of thinking, it can be a tunnel, an underground passage, whatever it is, it is available if I choose to take it.

I too am not a slow learner but I need to learn to slow things down and give somethings more time to process before I react. I am better than I was, but something that God and I still need to work on. It is a daily thing, some days are better than others.

And as they say, acceptance is the key. Most times for me to find acceptance, it is a process. I quite often have to knaw on it a little bit, before I can come to a decision. Quite often I have to deliberate and ask, "Is this one yours God or mine?" Sometimes I even ask Him to rethink His answer or change His mind and have even been known to try to prove Him wrong.

I know He knows best, yet I firmly believe He leads and guides me. If I am doing His will, how come I got to where I did and then I have to give it some more thought. Generally, it is that I got side tracked, took a wrong turn, misunderstood, or someone else got in the way, and I allowed it and gave up my own power. When that happens, I have to accept my own failings, and surrender and turn them back over to Him again.

When I just accept what is, in the moment, life doesn't get any better than that.

Sorry if these are repeats. Many times I say the same thing, often using different words, but what ever I have posted, no matter what year it came from, all has meaning and applicable in today.

Sometimes I need to be accepting of some nasty stuff, most often brought on by my own decisions, I am where I am in today, as a result of choices made. It also applies to the joy and happiness in the moment, if I don't accept it, acknowledge it, give thanks for it, it can pass me by.

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Acceptance
 

Something I posted on The Five As in 2011

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Very much needing acceptance in today and every day. It is the key to recovery for me. Accepting what is knowing it is subject to change. What was is no more. Leaving the past in the past, and accepting today as it comes, one day at a time.

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Reference from previous post.

I need to accept that I am worthy of recovery and love.

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Posted on another site.

This affirms my thought I had yesterday, the new year brings about change and we go through the grieving process.

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Had feared love, didn't think I was lovable and worthy of it as a result of all the abuse in my past. Not only by others but to myself.

I had to accept love and learn to like myself, that was the really hard part.

Principles For Better Living

Keep it simple.
Stop trying to please everybody.
Start pleasing yourself.
Cultivate gratitude.
Carve out an hour a day for solitude.
Don't be afraid of your passion.
Cherish your dreams.
Express love every day.
Keep your house picked up.
Don't over schedule.
Strive for realistic deadlines.
Never make a promise you can't keep.
Allow an extra half hour for everything you do.
Create quiet surroundings at home and at work.
Go to bed at nine o'clock twice a week.
Always carry something interesting to read.
Breathe -deeply and often.
Move -walk, dance, run, find a sport you enjoy.
Drink pure spring water. Lots of it.
Eat only when you are hungry.
It it's not delicious, don't eat it.
Be instead of do.
Set aside one day a week for rest and renewal.
Laugh more often.
Luxuriate in your senses.
Always opt for comfort.
Let Mother Nature nurture.
Don't answer the telephone during dinner.
Stay away from negative people.
Don't squander precious resources: time, creative energy, emotion.
Nurture friendships.
Approach problems as challenges.
Honor your aspirations.
Set achievable goals.
Surrender expectations.
Savor beauty.
Create boundaries.
Don't worry, be happy.
Remember: happiness is a living emotion.
Care for your soul.
Search for your authentic self until you find him/her.
Begin and end each day with prayer, meditation, or reflection.

Author Unknown

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The Ten Points

(The Ten Points are a summary of the lifesaving directions given in chapter five of Alcoholics Anonymous – the AA Big Book)

1. Completely give yourself to this simple Program.
2. Practice rigorous honesty.
3. Be willing to go to any lengths to recover.
4. Be fearless and thorough in your practice of the principles.
5. Realize that there is no easier, softer way.
6. Let go of your old ideas absolutely.
7. Recognize that half measures will not work.
8. Ask God’s protection and care with complete abandon.
9. Be willing to grow along spiritual lines.
10. Accept the following pertinent ideas as proved by All Addicts Anonymous experience:
(a) that you cannot manage your own life;
(b) that probably no human power can restore
you to sanity;
(c) that God can and will if sought.

From AA's Big Book, yet I feel it is applicable to all fellowships.

Love this thought. I am what I feed myself. If I am feeding myself negative things, then I am forgetting that I am a Child of God and worthy of good things.

If I feed myself positive things, I am affirming my worth.

As the saying goes, "If you say you can't, you won't" and "If you say you can, you will!

This is a spiritual program not a religious one. It may bring you back to the religion you left behind or lead you to one you never knew before.

A Higher Power is Universal. He/She/It is all things to me. He is what I need Him to be.

www.andiesisle.com/He-Will-Be.html

Accepting life on life's terms. This past week has not been a good one. Have my own pain, and it was difficult to see my son in so much pain. He went to a dentist who tried to pull the tooth, and it split and he needs a neurosurgeon to get out the roots.

When I got my call today to go to the Holistic Center, I wanted him to go with me, to get help to open up the nerve endings so the poison could get out, because the antibiotics don't seem to be working. He saw the dentist today and they gave him another antibiotic.

His idea is to find a pill, a quick fix to make it all go away.

I look for ways to help me to not pick up a pill for my pain.

Living life on life's terms. Often we can blame life, but we need to look at our life and our choices as to what brought us to where we are in today.

Sometimes, life just happens.

Life doesn't change, but I can, especially my attitude toward it.

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