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Welcome to Bill's Place.
A collection of Friends In Recovery.
Featuring a weekly Step Study from various 12 Step Recovery literature.
With the occasional inspirational message or message pertaining to a broad spectrum of varied spiritual practices.
An open forum for discussion of the aforementioned Step Study and inspirational/spiritual practice messages.
"Dance like there's no one watching and love like you've never been hurt."
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BillsPlace/

The NA Basic Text
Chapter 10, More Will Be Revealed
(Excerpt)

Today we have the freedom of choice. As we work the program to the best of our ability, the obsession with self is removed. Much of our loneliness and fear are replaced by the love and security of the fellowship. Helping a suffering addict is one of the greatest experiences life has to offer. We are willing to help. We have had similar experiences and understand fellow addicts as no one else can. We offer hope for we know that a better way of life is now real for us, and we give love because it was so freely given. New frontiers are open to us as we learn how to love. Love can be the flow of life energy from one person to another. By caring, sharing, and praying for others, we become a part of them, and through empathy, allow them to become part of us. As we do this, we undergo a vital spiritual experience and are changed.

On a practical level, changes occur because what's appropriate to one phase of recovery may not be for another. We constantly let go of what has served its purpose, and let God guide us through the current phase with what works here and now.

As we become more God-reliant and gain self-respect, we realize that we don't need to feel superior or inferior to anyone; our real value is in being ourselves. Our egos, once so large and dominant, now take a back seat because we are in harmony with a loving God. We find that we lead richer, happier and much fuller lives when we lose self-will.

We become able to make wise and loving decisions, based on principles and ideals that have real value in our lives. Shaping our thoughts with the spiritual ideals that we are moving toward, we are freed to become who we want to be. What we had feared, we can now overcome through our dependence on a loving God. Faith has replaced our fear and given us freedom from ourselves.

In recovery, we also strive for gratitude. We feel grateful for ongoing God-consciousness. Whenever we confront a difficulty that we do not think we can handle, we ask God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

A spiritual awakening is an ongoing process. We experience a wider view of reality as we grow spiritually. An opening of our minds to new spiritual and physical experiences is the key to better awareness. As we grow spiritually we become attuned to our feelings and our purpose in life.

By loving ourselves, we become able to truly love others. This is a spiritual awakening that comes as a result of living this program. We find ourselves daring to care and love.

Higher mental and emotional functions, such as conscience and the ability to love, were sharply affected by our use of drugs. Living skills were reduced to the animal level. Our spirit was broken. The capacity to feel human was lost. This seems extreme, but many of us have been in this state.

In time, through recovery, our dreams come true. We don't mean that we necessarily become rich or famous. However, by realizing the will of our Higher Power, dreams do come true in our recovery.

One of the continuing miracles of recovery is becoming a productive, responsible member of society. We need to tread carefully into areas that expose us to ego-inflating experience, prestige and manipulation that may be difficult for us to deal with. We have found that the way to remain a productive, responsible member of society is to put our recovery first. N.A. can survive without us but we cannot survive without N.A.

Living just for today, we have no way of knowing what will happen to us. We are often amazed at how things work out for us. Recovering in the here and now, the future becomes an exciting journey. If we had written our list of expectations when we came to the program, we would have been cheating ourselves. Hopeless living problems became joyously changed. Our disease has been arrested and now anything is possible.

We become increasingly open-minded which opens the door for new ideas, in all areas of our lives. Through active listening, we hear things that work for us. This ability is a gift and grows as we grow spiritually. Life takes on a new meaning when we open ourselves to this gift. ln order to receive, we must be willing to give.

Narcotics Anonymous offers only one promise and that is freedom from active addiction, the solution that eluded us for so long. We will be freed from our self-made prisons.

In recovery, our ideas of fun change. We are now free to enjoy the simple things in life, like fellowship and living in harmony with nature. We now have become free to develop a new understanding of life. As we look back, we are grateful for our new life. It is so unlike the events that brought us here.

While using, we thought that we had fun and that non-users were deprived of it. Spirituality enables us to live to the fullest, feeling grateful for who we are and what we have done in life. Since the beginning of our recovery, we have found that joy doesn't come from material things, but from within ourselves. We find that when we lose self-obsession, we are able to understand what it means to be happy, joyous, and free. Indescribable joy comes from sharing from the heart; we no longer need to lie to gain acceptance.

Narcotics Anonymous offers addicts a program of recovery which is more than just a life without drugs. Not only is this way of life better than the hell we lived, it is better than any life we had ever known.

We have found a way out, and we see it work for others. Each day more will be revealed.

"My gratitude speaks...
When I care and
When I share with others
The N.A. way."

Thankful for it all
~Ralph Marston~

Gratitude is like putting money in the bank. Practice it every chance you get.

Every day is filled with opportunities to be thankful. You can be thankful for your blessings, for your problems, for the things you know, for the things you've yet to learn, and for everything in between.

When you sincerely enjoy and appreciate life's small, simple treasures, the big, impressive achievements will soon be headed your way. Demonstrate, with joy and enthusiasm, your appreciation for something, and you're likely to get much more of it.

Choose to be gloriously thankful simply for the fact that you're alive and aware. You will notice an immediate and profound improvement in your day.

Every thankful thought you think connects you more solidly to life's magnificent abundance. The more you appreciate something, the more real value it takes on.

So challenge yourself to be truly thankful for all that is around you, for all that is in you, and for all that happens to you and through you. By so doing, you give richness and value to everything you touch.

Creating Abundance Through Following Your Inner Guidance
Meditation by Orin and DaBen

I know that I am the source of my abundance.
I can create whatever is for my higher good.

I now think of abundance, or something I want to create in my life.

As I think of it, I ask myself what having this will create in my life.

I look at what soul qualities I think having this will give me, such as joy, peace, love, and so on.

I first ask for these qualities to appear in my life, and allow them to come in many ways.

I visualize what I want.
I ask for this or even better to come to me.

I take a moment to feel the feelings I will have when this comes into my life.

I pretend I already have it.
I bring into my body the feelings of joy, love, peace, and whatever else I think having this will create for me.

I open to having these feelings, letting them come in many ways and through many forms, people, and situations.
In this way I create abundance in my life.

I now listen to my inner guidance, coming from my higher self and soul, that is showing me how to create what I want in my life.

When I listen to and follow my inner guidance, things come to me easily.
My inner guidance shows me the best and highest ways to create what I am picturing.

It brings me even more than I have imagined, and assists me in creating those things that are for my highest good.

I think again of what I want to create in my life.
I get quiet and let guidance flow into me from my higher self.

I know that my higher guidance may speak directly to me, or may lead me to certain people, books, and situations that show me how to create what I want.

I hear my inner guidance by listening to my feelings.
I do those things that call to my heart, and release those things that do not.

I practice listening to my feelings today by saying "no" when I do not feel drawn to do something, and by saying "yes" when I do.

I realize when things seem hard, that it is time to listen to my inner guidance.
I stop, get quiet, and look for where to put my time and energy that feels right, and that brings me joy.

As I pay attention, I create my highest good I draw abundance and all good things into my life.

My dreams come true as I follow my inner guidance.

You are welcome to join this Group by clicking the button below;

After joining feel free to invite your friends to the Group by using the "Invite" button below;

or by simply sending them this URL;
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BillsPlace/

The Message Is Hope, The Promise Is Freedom

Just for today, you never have to use again.

Alive and Free

Never Alone Never Again
(neveralone_neveragain)

"Dance like there's no one watching and love like you've never been hurt."

Jimmy K.

The message is hope. The promise is freedom. Just For Today, you never have to use again.

---
"When the solution is simple, God is answering."
~Albert Einstein~

Peace.
Bill

A Group of Recovering Friends
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BillsPlace/

My Gateway
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8nqeu/

My Homepage
http://www.angelfire.com/realm3/haven/index.html

Pics of Family and Friends
http://community.webshots.com/user/sequoian100

ARNA Album
http://www.angelfire.com/realm3/haven/slideshow/ArnaAlbum/ArnaAlbumThumpageIntro.html

My Music Page
http://www.angelfire.com/music6/sequoian/Welcome.html

MySpace
http://www.myspace.com/neveralone_neveragain

MySpace Blog
http://blog.myspace.com/neveralone_neveragain

Put yourself on my map.
Let me see where you are.

http://www.frappr.com/?a=constellation_map&mapid=2215210

Agents of God Montage

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=1895873a7fa75330862d31&skin_id=0&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

To trust, have faith, is to know that whatever happens will be good.

Trust and Believe

Canookie Girl