Recovery Simple Sanity By admin Posted on October 3, 2016 4 min read 1 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin Share on Tumblr When I was a boy, I was always attracted to quotable quotes, points to ponder, or words of wisdom. Little did I know that this love of phrases would come to help me in the Fellowship. But when I first arrived in program, I found our slogans too simple. They seemed to lack the depth, meaning, and imagination that famous quotations have. Fortunately, I began to see beauty and magic in their simplicity. Early in abstinence I was stuck on Step Two, having a good deal of difficulty reconciling myself with the word “sanity.” Slowly, the program began to make headway in changing my flawed thinking. I began to see insanity as cluttered, complicated thinking; it was negative, excuse-filled, and blaming thinking, full of fears about yesterday and tomorrow. I was shocked to see that my thoughts had been so self-centered. To simplify my mind and align with my Higher Power, I turned more and more to our slogans. Simplicity, peace, and silence became concepts I sought for my thinking. Over time, familiar and not-so-familiar slogans became very precious to me. The more I uttered them (in my mind or aloud), the more peaceful and simple my thinking became. Today is no exception. I continually weed the garden of my mind and clear the static in my attic by using my Higher Power and these slogans: Take it home. Reliance, not defiance Action is the magic word. This too shall pass. Keep coming back. One day at a time Lighten up. Live and let live. Attitude of gratitude But for the grace of God First things first Don’t eat compulsively, go to meetings. The sky is the limit for gifts in this program. It’s the wants that get you in trouble. If you worry, don’t pray; if you pray, don’t worry. You can’t see the forest for the trees. You have to give it away to keep it. You can’t have what you want till you want what you have. Resentment is a luxury we cannot afford. God grant me the serenity to love her or his best, and not fear her or his worst. There are many more slogans that offer us peace of mind in this Fellowship. The above are most of my favorites. Which ones are yours? — P.D., Ottawa, Ontario Canada
