Weekly Meeting 19 to 25...A do list for newcomers

[dalin]

I know...I had that question too...
What is a Do List?
Basicly it was explained to me here in Toronto Canada,that it is an important thing for anyone new in recovery to have.
It is a list of things to do to stay clean,sober,sane,and comfortable in your skin.
It is the opposit of a dont list,which alot of relapsers live.They hang out with other newcomers(A sick mind,cant help a sick mind,with a sick mind)
So,what can we put on our list?
1)A list of slogans(been called recovery wisdom in small words)
2)A list of phone numbers of folks with recovery(a year or two) I try to get my newcomer freinds to call 2 a day,
3)Small things they can do to not to use or get crazy or drunk or in jail.
4)A gratitude list...to keep things in perspective.
I am flying to louisiana next week.
Makingitcount picked up a 30 day keytag last week and had his earthday birthday.
Part of my present to him is this Do List,where everyone puts down what they do normaly to stay clean,sane,sober and out of jail.
I try to work on my relationship with the God I believe in today,and treat everyone outside me like I treat Him.
So Family,what can we do?
What do you do?
What do you do when it gets tough?

[snugsnug]

Originally Posted by dalin

I know...I had that question too...
What is a Do List?
So Family,what can we do?
What do you do?
What do you do when it gets tough?

Hey family,
What I do is pretty much what I do.
Like today for instance, this morning, I was up around 5:30 6 am, my meditation, my devotions, check in here.
At 7:00 AM I was driving to three addicts houses to pick them up to do some service work. They are all newcomers, they have all been in and out a few times. I made suggestions to them this time around to do something different. Add some balance to your life, add Jesus and some service to a local church. Get out of you and into everyone else.
When it gets tough I give thanks
for what I do have and not focusing on what I do not have. I focus on progress not perfection, just for today.
I call some addicts, I try to apply some steps and traditions to the situation. I try to the best of my ability to get out of the problem and into the solution.
We can!
Thanks for leting me share
Sterling

[eve3]

hey all good share ty,what i do is when i wake up hit the button on the computer,the coffe pot ask for gods will say the rest of my prayers read the daily reading i have several and go 2 most everybodies journals to @ least say hello,and i share in mine this keeps me busy for a while,like 2 hours @ least i talk with other recovering addicts on a daily sponcee and e mail my sponcer and of course my mtg @ least 3 i work in recovery also.i hope i didnt get to off track ty eve!oh yes been readin different books aa na books on spiruality 25 words is small book an awesome and so is 4 agreements.......and pray for strenght and courage and like streling said for what i have not what i dont have god bless eve

[WendyB]

Originally Posted by dalin

So Family,what can we do?
What do you do?
What do you do when it gets tough?

Good topic. Well I pray every morning on my knees, for Gods will, I pray for him to show me where I am lacking, and for him to show me the next right action. I do the 3rd step prayer also every morning.
I talk to God throughout my day, and when things get really bad in my head, I hit my knees and ask for guidance. I stay close to other alcoholics everyday. I talk on the phone a lot. I don't like that feeling of being disconnected. And if I do not call other alcoholics everyday, I feel disconnected. I call my sponsor everyday and I let her know everything that is going on in my life. I need that accountability. Being of service to others is a big part of my recovery also. I treat people exactly how I want to be treated, with kindness and compassion.
I go to 4 committed meetings a week, and when I am crazy I go to more. I listen to what my sponsor suggests, She has 17 years of sobriety and I want what she has. The only way I see to get what she has is do what she does.
Before I go to bed every night. I read some of the Big book. I pray every night on my knees, I thank God for showing me everything I need to see and for giving me another day sober.

[fibiray]

The newcomers do list when I first came in included a list of meetings, phone numbers, a list of the slogans as well as the literature. There were other things that the older sober members use to do and that included getting the newcomer to help with the setting up and washing up after meetings. This made the newcomer feel more part of the group. Simple basic instructions were offered such as dress appropriately and tend to your appearance. Might sound intrusive or even rude but lets face it many of us came in looking like we came from the right side of hell. If the newcomer worked then do an honest days work for an honest days pay. If they didn't work then do some volunteer work or keep ontop of the housework. If you say you will be somewhere then be prompt unless there is a valid reason for being late. This was always really good principles to adopt in early recovery when the newcomer was unable to yet take the steps. I often see members turn up at meetings without a shirt on and no shoes, or who are constantly late to meetings and they come in disrupting the meeting. This is the type of stuff that the next person coming in sees and takes on. If this was suggested today many people would be offended and would promptly tell the old timer to bugger off. What these things did for me was they introduced me to the concept of self respect, something that I had not had in a long time. The just for today card was a must for the newcomer and is still relevant to the old timers. I have included it for those who don't have it.

Just for today I will try and live through this day and not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

Just for today I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, that, "most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Just for today I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my 'luck' as it comes and fit myself to it.

Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will study. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires mental effort and concerntration.

Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways. I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. If anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I do not want to do - just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt; they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.

Just for today I will be agreeable, will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, talk low, act courteous, criticise not one bit, not find fault with anything and not try to improve or regulate anybody except myself

Just for today I will have a program - I may not be able to follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests; hurry and indecision.

Just for today I will have a quiet half hour all to myself and relax. During this half hour sometime, I will try and get a better perspective of my life.
Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.

[craig]

All three said the key to Alcoholics Anonymous is....... "Don't Drink And Go To Meetings". Craig

[admin]

Besides what has already been stated:
Go to meetings
Get a sponsor
Work the steps
Don't drink or drug - just for today

I get up in the mornings and I pray and make connection with God. In the past when I have accidentally forgotten to do this I can tell. Prayer and connecting with God gets my day off to a great start. Gets my mind frame right. Now if I get off the beam during the day, I stop and reconnect again. Through AA and working the steps, God has become number 1 in my life. There are occasions when I jump over in the driver's seat and take control but I quickly mess up and get back in the passenger's seat.

Connecting with others in recovery. I connect with others in recovery whether face to face, online or on the phone. Each day I connect with others in recovery. It helps me to be around those like myself.

Reading and meditating. I read and meditate using the Bible, recovery literature and spiritual/christian literature. That helps with my behavior and thought process also.

Helping others. I also reach out to others every day. The others I reach out to don't necessarily have to be in recovery. I reach out and try to help anyone God puts in my path. It helps me to give it away what God has given me.

All throughout my day, God is my friend that I talk to. I am never alone with God in my life.

At the end of the day I give thanks and praise to God.

Now when I got through difficult times, I pray and usually call my mom, a couple of close friends of mine and we talk. This helps me in getting through difficult times and any other situations. Always better to vent to a friend then to shoot off at the mouth in the heat of a moment which I still do sometimes. I have a very close friend who has told me that I can always call her and vent to her first. That really helps when I do it.

Now I am not perfect. I am human. (I can hear a friend of mine now. She has this sound she makes whenever I say that.) But it helps that I have accepted that I am not perfect and that I make mistakes. When I mess up, if there are amends to be made then I make them. I strive for progress not perfection. I work on keeping my side of the street clean.

So I guess a short version for me would be:
Pray in the mornings
Connect with others in recovery
Read recovery/spiritual literature
Help Others
Pray and Give Thanks
Do a daily inventory

I am never alone, God is always with me and today I have friends to reach out to to help me along the way.

[dalin]

These sayings,well this do list...rocks.!!
I t is awesome how we have such diferant amounts of recovery working together here!
Together we make it!!!!!!!!

[docwill]

Such great stuff; so many great "do" lists.
What do I do? Changing one old habit--no more sitting on the porch with that first cigarette and coffee and "Day by Day".
Still read "Day by Day" first thing, but no more cigarettes; coffee, yeah. Then Dr. Twerski thanks to bluidkiti.
Then I try my best to start my 10th Step, looking for what I need to put right today. I talk to another addict, either active or in recovery, and to my Higher Power. My Higher Power talks back, too, but not in my head. That's more likely to be my disease. Actually, when my Higher Power talks back, sounds a lot like you all!
I try to end my day with gratitude, meditating on what I am grateful for.
That's it.
At least that's it when I am not being a total jerk.

[janbear]

Prayer and Meditation with God
Read christian and recovery readings
share with others and be openminded to what they share with me here.
Be productive around home.
Go to a meeting
Focus on steps 10-12
service to others
Sometimes i am on the N.A. Helpline


Footnote: AAHH! Did Tammy really say it in her post?

Now I am not perfect. I am human.

Imagine that!