You never fail until you stop trying.
Albert Einstein - 1879-1955 - Physicist-Nobel Prize Winner
"I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand." - Confucius
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
William James - 1842-1910 - American Philosopher
"Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting." - William Arthur Ward
Success in life is not for those who run fast, but for those who keep running and are always on the move.
Bangambiki Habyarimana - Author-Community Worker
"People seldom refuse help, if one offers it in the right way." - A. C. Benson
We first make our habits, then our habits make us.
John Dryden - 1631-1700 - English Poet-Translator-Playwright
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When we first came to NA, many of us had great difficulty accepting the spiritual principles underlying this program—and for good reason. No matter how we’d tried to control our addiction, we’d found ourselves powerless. We grew angry and frustrated with anyone who suggested there was hope for us, because we knew better. Spiritual ideas may have had some bearing on other peoples’ lives, but not on ours.
Despite our indifference or intolerance toward spiritual principles, we were drawn to Narcotics Anonymous. There, we met other addicts. They’d been where we’d been, powerless and hopeless, yet they’d found a way not only to stop using but to live and enjoy life clean. They spoke of the spiritual principles that had pointed the way for them to this new life of recovery. For them, these principles were not just theories but a part of their practical experience. Yes, we had good reason to be skeptical, but these spiritual principles spoken of by other NA members really seemed to work.
Once we admitted this, we didn’t necessarily accept every single spiritual idea we heard. But we did start to think that, if these principles had worked for others, just maybe they’d work for us, too. For a beginning, that willingness was enough.
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Just for today: Just maybe the spiritual principles I hear spoken of in NA might work for me. I am willing, at least, to open my mind to the possibility.
“Unlike some of Al‑Anon’s practices and principles that take a while to learn and apply, the Al‑Anon slogans are easy to learn and remember. You may have heard some of these slogans hundreds of times before without ever taking them seriously or trying to put them to work. After all, they are clichés, and easy to disregard. But it is their very simplicity that makes them so powerful.”
““Easy Does It” suggests not only that I learn to slow down, but also that I learn to lighten up. Today I will strive to take a more accepting attitude toward myself and to enjoy the day, regardless of what I achieve.” Courage To Change (B‑16), p. 93
“Improving our own attitudes, and our own state of mind, takes time. Haste and impatience can only defeat our purposes.” This Is Al‑Anon (P‑32), p. 9
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