We are in essence a society within a society. We learn through the 12 step process to be responsible, productive members of society. The process of recovery allows us to practice within the safety of our recovery meetings and through service ,a new skill set that requires  patience, tolerence, compassion, and a host of other spiritual principals. Learning that my way is not the only way and that I can practice the art of listening is a very useful tool. We develope it first in meetings as we “listen” to others share. We also listen when we are in our group business meetings,area or regional service or one on one with someone at the coffee pot. These new skills follow us out to our jobs, with our families,and in interactions with those outside the fellowship. It allows us to be virtually undetectable among those not in recovery but respected for our honesty and integrity in situations that many not in recovery would handle quite differently. We bring to the world our experience , strength and hope in away that compliments society and enhances the world around us. We bring foregiveness to a world that is often unkind and love for all creation around us. Living a 12 step life  makes us aware of lifes small pleasures like a fallen leaf, a grasshopper in the sun, the full moon, a beautiful pond with its ripples or a snow-flake on a pane of glass. The things that we never noticed or took for granted when we were spiritually dead,now plays a major roll in our everyday lives.  Our gratitude speaks when we now care and share the 12 step way!

I am so grateful to be clean and serene today. It has been 7 years that I have chosen to present and accounted for during my 24 year old daughter’s and my 77 yr old fathers cancer. The 12 steps have given me such wonderful tools and spiritual principles to live by as I try to the”best of my ability” to be a support system for both. Patience ,when I am powerless over their pain, tolerance when they are angry,compassion when they just need to be listened to, perserverence when I must cancel my own activities and sit through another treatment or operation are just a few of the gifts of recovery that I have command of these days.Today ,I have faith that his will not mine will be done and whatever that is will be ok. I don’t have to be in charge , I can just accept the journey as it is and in it find strength and courage to trust in a  power greater than myself that I never have to use through it all. I have the support of those in the fellowhip when I cry and I have prayer and meditation to put me in “conscious contact” with my higher power. I just recieved a phone call a few minutes ago , from my daughter and she is having problems breathing tonight and is on her way back to the hospital. She is in another city about an hour away. I stopped writing and whispered a small prayer…. In the 3rd step I learned to ” let go and let God”. I know that I am powerless but I also know that HP is powerful, loving and caring. Thanks to recovery… today I can deal with family illness.Truly, this is their journey and they have doctors and medicine. It is my journey to be here and stand beside them. “God grant me the serenty to accept the things I cannot change, ( their cancer) the courage to change the things I can , (my fears) and the wisdom to know the difference.(HP is in charge not me) . What a gift it is to grow in recovery and to become productive and responsible today…. thanks for letting me blog  Etta S