-
Stay
away from that first drink, taking the 1st step daily.
-
Attend
AA meetings regularly and get involved.
-
Progress is made ONE DAY AT A TIME.
-
Use the
24 Hour plan.
-
Remember, your disease is incurable, progressive and fatal.
-
Do 1st
things 1st!.
-
Don't
become too tired.
-
Eat at
regular hours.
-
Use the
telephone. Hello?
-
Be
active - don't just sit around. Idle time will kill you.
-
Use the
Serenity Prayer.
-
Change
old routines and patterns.
-
Don't
become too hungry.
-
Avoid
loneliness.
-
Practice control of your anger.
-
Air
your resentments.
-
Be
willing to help whenever needed.
-
Be good
to yourself, you deserve it.
-
Easy
does it.
-
Get out
of the "IF ONLY" trap.
-
Remember HOW IT WAS. Your last drunk, the feelings etc.
-
Be
aware of your emotions.
-
Help
another in his/her recovery, extend your hand, listen.
-
Try to
turn your life and your will over to your Higher Power.
-
Avoid
all mood-altering drugs, read labels on all medicines.
-
Turn
loose of old ideas.
-
Avoid
drinking situations/occasions.
-
Replace
old drinking buddies with new AA buddies.
-
Read
the Big Book.
-
Try not
to be dependent on another (sick relationships..
-
Be
grateful and when not make a GRATITUDE list.
-
Get off
the "Pity Pot"...the only thing you'll get is a ring around your ass and numb
feet .
-
Seek
knowledgeable help when troubled and or otherwise.
-
Face
it! You are powerless over alcohol.
-
Try the
12 and 12, not just 1 and 12 or 1, 12 and 13!
-
Let go
and Let God.
-
Use the
God bag and the answers: yes, no or wait I have something better in store for
you.
-
Don't
forget to say thanks.
-
Find
courage to change through the example of others who have.
-
Don't
try to test your will power - Have diarrhea? Try willpower.
-
Live
TODAY, not YESTERDAY, not TOMORROW - projection is planning the results before
anything even happens.
-
Avoid
new emotional involvements the first year - you end up putting the other
person first and lose sight of "your" program.
-
Remember alcohol is - cunning, baffling and powerful.
-
Rejoice
in the manageability of your new life.
-
Be
humble--Humility is not in thinking of your self more, but in thinking more of
yourself less often.
-
Watch
your ego.
-
Share
your experience, strength and hope.
-
Cherish
your recovery.
-
Dump
your garbage regularly
-
Get
plenty of "restful" sleep.
-
Stay
sober for you - not someone else - otherwise it won't work.
-
Practice rigorous honesty with yourself and others.
-
Progress is made ONE DAY AT A TIME, not 10 years in one day!
-
Make no
major life decisions the first year.
-
Get a
sponsor and use him/her. (not just selectively share..
-
Know
that no matter what your problems, someone's had them before.
-
Don't
be afraid to share.
-
Strive
for progress not perfection.
-
When in
doubt ask questions. The only stupid question is the one not asked.
-
You
weren't afraid to speak before, so why start now?
-
Use
prayer and meditation...not just pillow talk, get on those knees. Put your
shoes under the bed just in case someone's looking.
-
Maintain a balance: spiritual, physical, emotional and mental.
-
Don't
take yourself so seriously- take the disease seriously!
-
Learn
to take spot check inventories.
-
Watch
out for the RED FLAGS or "triggers" ... things that give excuses for poor
behavior and inevitable relapse.
-
Know
that it's okay to be human ... just don't drink over it.
-
Be kind
to yourself; it's about time, don't you think?
-
Don't
use other substances as a maintenance program.
-
Know
that whatever it is that's causing pain - it shall pass.
-
Stay as
away from the DRY DRUNK SYNDROME as humanly as possible.
-
Don't
give away more than you can afford to, your sobriety comes first and must be
the number 1 priority. Protect it at all costs.
-
Take
down those bricks from the walls around you; you'll be able to see the
daylight better. Let people know who you are.
-
Get a
home group and attend it regularly.
-
Know
that the light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train, but actually
a ray of hope. Drop the negativity.
-
Know
that you are not alone, that's why the "We" is in the steps.
-
Be
willing to go to any lengths to stay and be sober.
-
Know
that no matter how bleak and dark your past may be, your future is clean,
bright and clear if you don't drink today.
-
Stay
out of your own way.
-
Don't
be in a hurry--remember "TIME = Things I Must Earn".
-
Watch
the EGO. "EGO = Ease God Out".
-
Protect
your sobriety at all costs. Keep the light on you.
-
Learn
to listen, not just hear. Be open-minded and nonjudgmental.
-
Know
that if your insides match your outsides, everyone looks good.
-
If the
rest of the world looks bad, check yourself out first.
-
Gratitude is in the attitude.
-
When
all else fails ... just don't drink. Up the number of meetings!!!
-
Remember FEAR = FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL!
-
Remember FINE = Fouled up, Insecure/insane, Neurotic and Emotionally
imbalanced...watch the FINE.
-
Handle
what you can and leave the rest, don't overtax yourself. You can only
accomplish so much in a given 24 hours.
-
Honesty
and consistency are key factors in recovery.
Let the little kid in you out - learn how to laugh from the gut.