Weekly Meeting 11/20 - 11/26 Thanks for Giving

[admin]

Don the SoberIndian has picked a topic for us to share on this week. Thank you Don.

Thanks for Giving
I am grateful for what I have today. First and importantly is the
“Gift of Recovery” I am only in recovery but for the grace higher
power of my understanding which I call the Great Spirit and the fellowship.
Today I am not much into materialistic things. I more concern with what
I have within. Something I was not concern with when I was younger.
Speaking for myself, I cannot keep what I have unless I give it
away. Today that I am in recovery, Thanksgiving has taken a different
meaning. Not the beginning of a near total genocide of American Indians or a
day of mourning, but a happy day. A day to be grateful
for that I am able to give thanks for giving to others that are in need
mentally, physically and spiritually. Time to get together with
family friends for a good excuse to EAT!
Chi miigwech
Don Manidoogekek

[mellotripp]

This time of year, Gratitude is a topic in most meetings. Thank God for Gratitude, to place it anywhere else is my will run riot.

[admin]

I am so very grateful to God for giving me another chance in life. Because of this I am able to have a life beyond my wildest dreams. Because of my gratitude for what He has done for me, I desire to give back what has been given me. Praise God and to Him I give all the glory.

[janbear]

Thanks Don. I too am very grateful for God in my life who blesses me on a daily basis. The 12-step program shows me how to live a day at a time. Giving back to the fellowship for what has been given to me is important to me along with giving back to society, and family, that i took so much from. I am grateful to have a life that is truly blessed.

[craig]

Thanks Don for your topic. I may come from a slightly different slant. However, it is my truth concerning my alcoholism. When this topic comes to surface I automatically cringe as if running finger nails down a chalk board. Even as today is Thanksgiving;I do not subscribe to the mantra that many folks in recovery espouse that I am a "grateful alcoholic". For me,what I do state unequivocally,is that I am deeply grateful for Dr. Bob and Bill forging a alcohol recovery movement,the society of the second chance;that allows me,if I perform certain duties,to experience a daily reprieve from chronic,progressive,fatal alcoholism,based on my spiritual condition.

[clean42day]

on most days I feel pretty grateful and thankful to just wake up on the right side of the grass - There are graveyards full of alcoholic/addicts that won't get that chance to change their lives. So here I am the day after thanksgiving - sick with a cold and very grateful that not only did I enjoy yesterday - I didn't have to get a hit of crack cocaine to make it through the day. I spent it with friends who didn't want anything from me other than to enjoy eachothers company in unity celebrating a traditional holiday I got to give of myself, my time, and my thanks without motive for anything in return. What a blessing to be the "real" genuine me today and not have to alter myself chemically to stand my own company.

Thanksgiving holiday was A holiday that I stood in many a meal lines in shelters hoping that they didn't run out of food b4 they got to me - a holiday that I use to regard as just another day on the calendar. Back then I use to envy and or resent those people who still had family in thier lives.....mothers and fathers who would allow them in the door to eat. Those days had been long gone for me.

Yesterday I didn't get to spend with my family - but I was very grateful that I got to call them all and wish them a happy turkey day and really mean it.

My life today is vastly different than what it use to be and it is all because as the topic says - "thanks for giving" ---- for all those people in the meetings who stuck out thier hands and introduced themselves to me and made me feel welcome - for all those people who freely shared thier stories with me so I too could believe that I might be able to find recovery - for all those people who do service work on the holidays - when In the beginning of my recovery - my only options on thanksgiving and Christmas were to go and spend hours and days in marathon meetings.

Thanks to everyone of you who "give" from the heart - because every little act of kindness it was brought my heart back alive!

NA ROCKS!
AA SAVES LIVES!

[Humblepie]

I'm just grateful to be sober today, my 17th day without a drink.

Life on life's terms.