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Below is the list of slogans our readers have shared with us over the past year. Click on the links and read what they have written about the slogans.
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It keeps open the door to your higher power for the rest of that day.
sent in by Larry of Tri-Cities, WA
When working with others don't think you haven't got what it takes. Yes, we are told that "You can't give away what you don't have", but if you have one more day than another, you have that one more day to give away. When do you begin helping a newcomer?
When you see a newcomer. Don't sweat it; just do it. Anyway, the most important thing you can do for the newcomer is to be there. Don't worry so much about what you say. You can't really say anything wrong to a newcomer, they're not listening anyway!
Our Big Book says to share your story, talk about the disease, don't lecture, and tend to their immediate needs (food, sleep, detox). In the Basic Text it is written, "Even a member with one day in the NA Fellowship can carry the message that this program works." You can do it. Say, "I can do that!"
When I acquainted myself with this program, one of the first things they told me was "You never have to be alone again."And although I had defiantly felt like an alien before finding the fellowship, I knew I was home once a skinny, 5 foot, incredibly wrinkled Indian woman threw her spindly weathered arms around my 6 foot torso and said with conviction "I love you."
I smelled incredibly bad coming off a drunk that spanned LA to San Francisco, my arms pits reeked, my breath was toxic, my face swollen, and I shook so bad you could run a generator on the vibration. Yet Margaret's little brown eyes spoke the truth--she really did love me!
This kind of love is found in every country of the world. We are family, you and I. In Russia, where I have attended and helped begin a number of meetings, they have a wonderful way of saying "you and I."
In Russian, one doesn't say "you and I." To be idiomatically correct, you have to say "We with you." I see our family in AA, NA, and CDA this way. There is no "you and I"as two singulars but only a "we." There was no "Margaret and me" but "We with Margaret." Recovery truly is a "we" endeavor. We with you work the steps, start meetings, do service work. And we with you will meet someday as we trudge this road of happy destiny.
sent in by Dan of Savannah, GA.
The one thing to keep my thinking in check is just three little words. "You are Wrong" That reminds me that the first thought in my head about a situation is usually the wrong one and I need to turn to god to do things the right way.
How many times have I given something to God only to try and tell Him how to handle it?
"God, I know my dog is very ill but please keep her alive for another few years because I am not ready to let go and it will be so painful for me. I know you are in charge but consider my pain and keep her alive."
And when my sweet companion passes despite my pleadings, my world turns upside down. This is because I didn't really turn it over, I turned it over with a condition that God have the dog live. When it doesn't happen, I am turned on my head.
However, had I believed that my Higher Power would handle it, I would have no outcome to hold on to. Then when she passes, although I would grieve, I could more easily accept it because it wasn't in my hands but God's.
sent in by Shelly M.
For years, Dr. Bob had this prayer on his desk. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or vexed, or irritable, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing that is done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised, it is to have a blessed home in myself where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my Father in secret and be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and about is seeming trouble." (Author unknown)
sent in by Simon of London, UK
When I made that 'phone call to AA as a newcomer, the guy I spoke to listened to my "story", and quietly said to me "When it costs you more than money..."
It didn't mean much to me at the time, but then nothing really made sense to me at that time.
After a few meetings I began to realise that losing two cars, a house, a wife, my driving licence and a career of 21 years was not just "bad luck", or just the way things happen - alcohol was costing more than money.
This has become my mantra. It reminds me how bad things were and, if I want, I can have all that madness back again. All I have to do is pick up again
sent in by Steve of Mesa, AZ
Sometimes when we first get into recovery, we find it difficult to follow the suggestions given us. We are like that kid who yells, "But Mom, I don't want to go to Australia," and Mom yells back, "Shut-up, keep swimming."
So there are 3 "buts" in the program, and they are on pages 58 & 59 in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. So shut-up and get into action, you'll never get to Australia just sitting there, that's not "How It Works."
sent in by Rhonda of Eldon, MO
I was struggling one day over trying to understand the senseless actions of my abusive ex-husband. My friend made the simplest most profound statment to me that has stuck with me...
"You can't make sense out of something that is senseless."
sent in by Nedra N. of Birminham, AL
Never before has meant more than in the past few weeks. We must stay in today to get over the tragedy and to be able to keep progressing in our program and not fall back.
sent in by David P. of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
It's like looking in the mirror and feeling better about yourself, the better you feel, the better you look and responses are noteworthy!
sent in by Sandy of Hicksville, NY
No matter what you are going through. Whether it's the hell of loneliness and/or depression, or floating around on a beautiful pink cloud, Don't worry. This Too Shall Pass.
sent in by Jenny W. of Sacramento, CA
when all I need is a cup of coffee to cheer me up, upon arising. I have many problems but hangovers are no longer one of them.sent in by Shawn of Richland, WA
I will and not give in to urges for momentary pleasure that will only bring me lifelong pain.sent in by Anonymous of York, PA
PERSEVERE. THINK POSITIVE...TELL YOURSELF YOU CAN DO IT!!DON'T LET ANYONE OR ANYTHING HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR LIFE.
sent in by Dyanne of Fort Smith, AR
Of all the slogans this is my favorite. It tells me if I don't change then I remain as I am - sick.
sent in by Tammy of Quinton, OK
I say this because I still carry my desire chip in my pocket, and it usually comes out when I dig for change, and I have met a lot of people like this, complete strangers, but if they are in the program, they automatically know, and they care, and I can talk to them like I have known them all my life because I know that they have been there, and we all have that connection, which makes us the BASICS. And without the basics, we would have no program.sent in by Tammy of Quinton, OK
This one took a while to sink in, I was so afraid at first that I was supposed to know God's will for me all the time. Then a man in my group told me that, if I didn't do what I knew God didn't want me to do, then most likely, I was doing God's will, and now I know that sometimes God works on a need to know basis. So when I don't know his will, I just keep not doing his won'ts if that makes any sense. It works for me.sent in by Melinda of Clayton, NJ
I say this because I know through experience that we don't seem to reach out for God until things are at there worst. You can never fail with GOD! Give GOD a try and you will see.
sent in by Terri of New Hope, MN
I feel this is really important in our journey to acceptance. Knowing that each individual is different and has their own thoughts and ideas does not make them wrong it makes them individuals with a personality of their own. So live your life and let others live theirs as they choose. ACCEPTANCE
sent in by Stephen
One of my favourite for years. Whenever I have been in a sticky situation for any reason, I call to mind these words, and anything that is not real and true, will pass and it always does. Such is the nature of life.
sent in by Martin of Killeen, TX
No matter what I have done, or not done God loves me. I need to remember that God is not keeping score but loves me in spite of what I do or don't do.
sent in by Martin of Lilleen, TX
This woke me up to my own insanity... in daily living and to stop being a door mat thinking I was doing God's will by having people take advantage of me. Actually, I am now just beginning to practise this whole heartedly.
sent in by Jim B. of Charleston, SC
That is my slogan and also the name of my website, which I dedicated to my best friend "Dino" who died a few years ago due to this disease. Recovery is more than just not drinking or drugging, it's about finding a whole new way to live and enjoy life. I still have two friends from my drinking days, and we talk on the phone (because I know better then to go there!) but those are the only real friends I had.
Now I'm meeting people that care about Jim and what's going on with me instead of what I can do for them. I was bar manager and dealer, there were hundreds who pretended to be my friends, now I know what true friendship is.
sent in by Mickey of Circleville, OH
I love this slogan. Every time I read it I know that I'm either in recovery completely or not at all. Today I chose to be immersed in sobriety.
sent in by Betsy of Somers Point, NJ
I am a recovering alcoholic with some serious health problems due to alcohol. I am Taking it One Day At A Time and that is the only way I can make it. I Know God Hasn't carried me this far to drop me off. My faith is strong and I stand tall in my convictions, Primary Purpose, Hope, Faith,and helping anyone who wants or needs me.
I stumble at times, But I know through what I have been taught you can always start yourday over, I have many times. I use all the tools that have been so freely given to me and pass them off to the next person who falls in my path as I know God puts people and certain situations in my path when I truly need them, there are no coincidences.
sent in by Carol D. of Dallas, GA
I really have no idea if I read this, heard it or made it up. LOL It really strikes me as a slogan for those newly sober. I went in and out of AA for 5 years before I earned a 1 year chip so the daily victory was very important to urge me forward. Thanks for letting me share my favorite.
sent in by Osman of Cairo, Egypt
In my recovery, fear was a feeling that really made me afraid. My sponsor used to tell me, "Do not act on your fears, fear is a feeling and if you act on it, it will just get bigger."
So this slogan made my life a little bit easier and it worked, but I had to work it like the whole program of recovery...
sent in by Scott of Bakersfield, CA
My Sponsor would always tell me, after I was whining about doing something, I would say "This is NOT FAIR!"
And he would say, "The fair's in Pomona and it cost 5 bucks!"
And I would say, "Ya, But..."
And he would say, "Chicken butts, 5 cents a bucket, that's what those are worth!"
Thank God for Sponsor's!!!
sent in by Rocco of New Rochelle, NY
What happens to a building that has weak supports. It falls down.
sent in by by Richard S. from Columbia, IN
Pick yourself up and start over. We all have had a problem with relapse. It is not the end of your life. Remember that it really is a 24 hour program. You start over each morning.
sent in by by Karlie from Odessa, Texas
This one isn't mine orginally, I just don't remember where I got it, but it has helped me in my recovery process to be me.
by Niel R. of Scottsdale, AZ
I want to take this moment to thank you for allowing me to be part of your recovery program.
sent in by Ian
This slogan is not mine but i don't hear it enough. From Dr.Bob "Trust God, Clean House, Help Others"— it's just that Easy if you work the process GOD Will Come if he is sought.sent in by Samone S., Annapolis
My favorite slogan is "One Day at a Time". It means a lot because every day is a new day to start over again.
sent in by Kat B.
Humility is an important part of recovery. I hear many newcomers struggle with the misconception of humility. many think that being humiliated and having humility are the same thing. In order for someone to start recovering, I feel that it is important for them to truely understand the difference and this slogan gives a clear and simple understanding.
sent in by Catherine H.
I have been learning for the past 6 months to let my children live their own lives and also how to live mine without interuupting othrs way of living. Letting my children have their own life is hard for me but as each day passes it becomes easier.
sent in by Brian S.
Several years ago, I got a job I had long sought. It was something I had always dreamed of doing, and I was ectastic when all the arrangements were finalized. At the time I was living abroad, and had about 17 years of sobriety. Shortly after I began working that January, business became difficult. Sales dropped inexplicitly, and no matter what I tried, it didn't seem to help. I soon developed a conflict with my boss, who was-rightly or wrongly-blaming me for the problems. He began to interfere more and more in areas that were my responsibility, so that staff that reported to me weren't sure what was going on.
I worked longer and longer hours, and tried all sorts of things to try to improve our business and my attitude. The stress became greater and greater. Even though I was aware of how I was feeling and reacting, my family life suffered from my lousy moods.
In July, one of my AA friends suggested that each day, for 30 days, I read the Third Step chapter in the Twelve and Twelve, and pray daily to turn my will and life over to the care of God as I understood him. So, each day, I read those 7-1/4 pages. After two weeks, I grew a bit restless but was determined to stick with it. Nothing changed at work; in fact, it got worse. I was hardly speaking to my boss. I began to question the wisdom of my AA friend's suggestion-that I should pray and meditate on how to "turn it over." My mood didn't improve, either. At the end of the thirty days, I was ready to throw my little blue Twelve and Twelve out the window. I was worse! And I still had no clue as to what God's will was for me. How could I "turn it over"?
Two weeks after that thirty-day Third Step exercise, I got my answer: I was fired from my job. And, now, years later, I understand how perfect God's will was for me then and is now. I only have to stay out of the way to know what it is.
sent in by Julie W.
Thanks for the invitation to write about this slogan. I heard it at a meeting when I was visiting in Falls Church, VA.
We are about as happy as we make up our minds to be. If I choose happy rather than grumpy, my resentments are crowded out and left with no fertilizer. I have found that unnourished resentments starve to death. Likewise if I am appreciative of what I have, my glass is half full rather than half empty. The more appreciative and grateful I think and act, the more I have to appreciate and for which to be grateful.
When I came to this program, only the AA's would love me. I was not pleasant to be around, I had withdrawn from my social circle, wanting to be left alone. I did not want to be alone, I simply could not continue to drink as much as I had to and not have everyone mentioning that I drank too much and that I should do something about it! But as I embarked on the journey of recovery I found that being patient and tolerant and more interested in others and less focused on myself, I became more lovable. And I must always be teachable, open to new ideas, new knowledge, and new ways of doing things, because the old ideas, what I thought I knew so much about, and the way I was doing things, well, they availed me nothing.
Having come to the turning point and, by the grace of God, taken the turn, I am happy, I do appreciate what has been given me, I have a host of friends, and I continue to learn. The promises do come true! When I heard this version of HALT it was refreshing. I had used and reused the standard version of HALT, but I felt that this version was something for the long-term, something that I could use so that someday I can be one of those long-timers.
sent in Brian S.
This week George came back. He walked into the meeting room slowly, using a cane. He's not much over 50, but when he came back he looked, walked, and acted like he was about 20 or 30 years older. My heart sunk when I saw him. I knew something was wrong. I hadn't seen him much the previous few months. My heart sunk even further when meeting chair asked if "there is anyone under 90 days who would like to share a day count with us" and George raised his hand.
"My name is George and I'm an alcoholic and I have 11 days back," he said weakly. "I got out of the detox this morning."
Normally we applaud those giving day counts, but that day there was barely a sound. Everyone was simply too stunned. George had had 12 plus years of sobriety. I didn't know George very well, but I did like to hear him share from the floor, and tell his story on his anniversary date. He had a strong voice and was skilled at pubic speaking. Everything always seemed fine.
Over the next days and weeks it came out that George had stopped going to meetings--the pressures of business, the pressures of family. It didn't surprise me--it is a theme that I have heard all too often from those who are fortunate enough to make it back to AA after drinking again. As it says in the "Big Book" (page 89) about Step 12, "Nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics." One of the key places for me to practice Step 12 is at the regular meeting of my home group. But, if I am not going to meetings, I am not going to have a chance to have that all-important contact with other alcoholics, and the chance to practice Step 12. I am going to miss out on the one thing that just might help me to stay sober another day. And, I won't hear people like George giving their day count. People who don't go to meetings don't find out what happens to people who don't go to meetings.
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© 2006 Turning Leaf Press, Inc.