General Inspiration - Recovery Road Map

Points to Ponder (things to think about, & healthy ways to waste time)
Gained and Lost - by Ann from Texas April 21st, 2005
Things I have gained: My self respect My self esteem Renewed faith in God Happiness Laughter My health Feelings Pride in my accomplishments A full time job that I love A bank account with actual money in it Ability to look people in the eye Food in my fridge Trust and respect from my friends Time with my family Ability to wake rested and ready for a new day.	Things I have lost: My speeder friends The ability to lie without a conscience Black circles under my eyes Hours spent doing everything but nothing Self doubt Paranoia An empty heart An empty purse Sorrow Hopelessness Aches and pains caused from tension.
The Guilt Trip I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I'm talking about my annual "*Guilt Trip." I got tickets to fly there on Wish I Had* airlines. It was an extremely short flight. I got my baggage, which I could not check. I chose to carry it myself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand memories of what might have been. No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the *Regret City* International Airport. I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town. As I checked into the *Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that they would be hosting the year's most important event, the Annual Pity Party. I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the town's leading citizens would be there. First, there would be the Done family, you know... Should Have, Would Have* and Could Have. Then came the *I Had family. You probably know ol' Wish and his clan. Of course, the Opportunities* would be present, Missed and Lost. The biggest family would be the *Yesterday's. There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share. Then Shattered Dreams* would surely make an appearance. And *It's Their Fault* would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed in his life, and each story would be loudly applauded by *Don't Blame Me* and *I Couldn't Help It. Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party knowing that there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and subsequent "pity party" could be canceled by ME! I started to truly realize that I did not have to be there. I didn't have to be depressed. One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY.* I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging. Knowing this, I left the City of Regret immediately and left no forwarding address. Am I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past? YES! But there is no physical way to undo them. So, if you're planning a trip back to the City of Regret, please cancel all your reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a place called Starting Again. I liked it so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there. My neighbors, the I Forgive Myself family and the New Starts are so very helpful. By the way, you don't have to carry around heavy baggage, because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. God bless you in finding this great town. If you can find it, please look me up. I live on *I Can Do It street*.	Alcohol Warning Labels Due to increasing products liability litigation, your local and international liquor manufacturers have accepted the suggestion that the following *warning labels* be immediately placed on all containers: WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you are whispering when you are not. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a retard. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you have mystical Kung Fu powers, resulting in you getting your ass kicked. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to roll over in the morning and see something really scary. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol is the leading cause of inexplicable rug burns on the forehead, knees and lower back. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are invisible. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause a disturbance in the time-space continuum, whereby gaps of time may seem to literally disappear. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause pregnancy. The Hole I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost... I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in, again. I can't believe I am in this same place. But, it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out. I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in.....it's a habit....but, My eyes are open, I know where I am. It IS my fault. I get out immediately. I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it. I walk down another street. by... Portia Nelson
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