To Bill on change

[Guest guest]

Bill wrote:

Hi: I did not grow up in an alcoholic home, but I became one with my

live in companion. After five years of being completely drunk, by

the Grace of God and no one else, I decided to sober up and change

my life. He did not.. I eventually got out of that relationship and

managed on my own to start a new life. It has been ten years now and

thanks to seven years of once a week therapy, I remain sober...But

you learn to catch yourself before you make a mistake, and you learn

to look after yourself first and foremost, even though that sounds

terribly selfish. Is it hard work. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO yes....be

patient with yourself, pray alot, ask for help a lot, and you will

make it. I shall chant for you and for all who are in the midst of

this struggle. Having been there, I know how hard it is.

Dear Bill,

 

I really appreciate your kind words. I am so happy for you, that you

were able to turn your life around. I don't know if you went to any

12 step programs, but I know how powerful they can be. I was in Al

Anon for a number of years, after I left home. While I was living

with my parents, I didn't know my father was an alcoholic; to us he

was simply a monster. Then when I got older I found out how much he

was drinking and could remember small incidents.

I welcome your prayers and chanting. I still have not learned to take

care of myself very well. But I think if I put the focus on God/dess

and take care of that relationship, somehow things will change. I

have been challenged by life circumstances all my life; now by sever

debilitating and chronic illnesses. I am glad you have found Shree

Maa and Swamiji.

Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

Excuse me for interrupting on this conversation, I just wanted

to share that I am a sober alcoholic and have attended a 12 step group

for 19 years off and on.

 

For many of those years I was an atheist, in 1992 after the birth of

my son I started to ask the quesiton: where do I come from, how did

give birth to this beautiful child etc.

 

My spiritual journey started then and has waivered many times since

then, but today I am truly happy, joyous and free.

 

My Creator is doing for me now what I could not do for myself and for

this I am truly grateful....

 

Peace and blessings,

 

Melissa C.

South/West Ontario, Canada

 

 

, nierika@a... wrote:

>

>

> Bill wrote:

>

> Hi: I did not grow up in an alcoholic home, but I became one with

my live

> in companion. After five years of being completely drunk, by the

Grace of

> God and no one else, I decided to sober up and change my life. He

did not.. I

> eventually got out of that relationship and managed on my own to

start a new

> life. It has been ten years now and thanks to seven years of once

a week

> therapy, I remain sober...But you learn to catch yourself before

you make a

> mistake, and you learn to look after yourself first and foremost,

even though

> that sounds terribly selfish. Is it hard work. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO

> yes....be patient with yourself, pray a

> lot, ask for help a lot, and you will make it. I shall chant for

you and

> for all who are in the midst of this struggle. Having been there,

I know how

> hard it is.

>

>

>

> Dear Bill,

>

> I really appreciate your kind words. I am so happy for you, that you

were

> able to turn your life around. I don't know if you went to any 12

step programs,

> but I know how powerful they can be. I was in Al Anon for a number

of years,

> after I left home. While I was living with my parents, I didn't

know my

> father was an alcoholic; to us he was simply a monster. Then when I

got older I

> found out how much he was drinking and could remember small incidents.

> I welcome your prayers and chanting. I still have not learned to

take care

> of myself very well. But I think if I put the focus on God/dess and

take care

> of that relationship, somehow things will change. I have been

challenged by

> life circumstances all my life; now by sever debilitating and chronic

> illnesses. I am glad you have found Shree Maa and Swamiji.

> Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji

>

[Guest guest]

I, too, don't wish to interrupt but I wanted to say that I'm a

grateful member of Al Anon and sincerely believe that Shree Maa sent

me there.

 

The way it happened was, I'd been to a retreat with another spiritual

teacher, and it had made me painfully nostalgic for the times I'd

spent with Maa, Swamiji, and the Devi Mandir family. Those times were

sacred to me, and miraculous, for they had been a chance for me to see

first-hand that true, selfless devotion was not just something that

happened in some far-off land in a distant time--

 

so I prayed earnestly and tearfully to Maa, "Please give me a

spiritual community like yours." I knew *intellectually* that this was

impossible, since where I live there are few (if any) worshipers of

Kali...but two weeks later I felt impelled to attend an Al Anon

meeting, and that became my community. I had asked for the spiritual

community I wanted, and Maa led me to the one I needed.

 

I think Maa wanted me to grow up in certain ways that a 12-step

program makes possible, and to pray an impossible prayer and trust

that she could make it happen. She sure did--and it's not the only

prayer she's answered.

 

Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji!

 

K

 

, "Melissa" <honor@p...> wrote:

>

> Dear Friends,

>

> Excuse me for interrupting on this conversation, I just wanted

> to share that I am a sober alcoholic and have attended a 12 step group

> for 19 years off and on.

>

> For many of those years I was an atheist, in 1992 after the birth of

> my son I started to ask the quesiton: where do I come from, how did

> give birth to this beautiful child etc.

>

> My spiritual journey started then and has waivered many times since

> then, but today I am truly happy, joyous and free.

>

> My Creator is doing for me now what I could not do for myself and for

> this I am truly grateful....

>

> Peace and blessings,

>

> Melissa C.

> South/West Ontario, Canada

>

>

> , nierika@a... wrote:

> >

> >

> > Bill wrote:

> >

> > Hi: I did not grow up in an alcoholic home, but I became one with

> my live

> > in companion. After five years of being completely drunk, by the

> Grace of

> > God and no one else, I decided to sober up and change my life. He

> did not.. I

> > eventually got out of that relationship and managed on my own to

> start a new

> > life. It has been ten years now and thanks to seven years of once

> a week

> > therapy, I remain sober...But you learn to catch yourself before

> you make a

> > mistake, and you learn to look after yourself first and foremost,

> even though

> > that sounds terribly selfish. Is it hard work.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO

> > yes....be patient with yourself, pray a

> > lot, ask for help a lot, and you will make it. I shall chant for

> you and

> > for all who are in the midst of this struggle. Having been there,

> I know how

> > hard it is.

> >

> >

> >

> > Dear Bill,

> >

> > I really appreciate your kind words. I am so happy for you, that you

> were

> > able to turn your life around. I don't know if you went to any 12

> step programs,

> > but I know how powerful they can be. I was in Al Anon for a number

> of years,

> > after I left home. While I was living with my parents, I didn't

> know my

> > father was an alcoholic; to us he was simply a monster. Then when I

> got older I

> > found out how much he was drinking and could remember small

incidents.

> > I welcome your prayers and chanting. I still have not learned to

> take care

> > of myself very well. But I think if I put the focus on God/dess and

> take care

> > of that relationship, somehow things will change. I have been

> challenged by

> > life circumstances all my life; now by sever debilitating and

chronic

> > illnesses. I am glad you have found Shree Maa and Swamiji.

> > Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji

> >

>