Even people who ultimately decide that AA and NA are not for them will often find that the maxims of the Program have burrowed deep into their psyches. These pithy expressions cut through the mental chaos and fog that addiction creates to remind us of who we really want to be.
Presented without extraneous commentary or text / color fanfare because "the truth needs no adornment," as the wall of a burger joint in Hong Kong once advised me.
Accompanied by some wholesome pictures from my travels in recovery to set the tone.
First, the Serenity Prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference
One day at a time / Just for today
Progress, not perfection
If Plan A didn't work, the alphabet has 25 more letters
This too shall pass
Take what you can use and leave the rest
Does it need to be said? By me? Right now?
Messy bed, messy head
Move a muscle, change a thought
Resentment is drinking poison and expecting the other person to drop dead
Time takes time
Principles before personalities
Nothing changes if nothing changes
Let go and let God
Misery is optional
You are right where you belong
Hang around the barber's shop for long enough and you'll get a haircut
Two sickies don't make a wellie
Keep your side of the street clean
GOD = Good Orderly Direction
Keep it simple
(That poodle, tho...)
Let go and let God
Misery is optional
God doesn't make junk
FINE = F*cked Up, Insecure, Neurotic, Emotional
Life on life's terms
Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less
You're as sick as your secrets
One drink is too many and a thousand is never enough
HALT = Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired
First thought wrong
Your best thinking got you here
The best way to keep what you have is to give it away
If you're alone in your head, you're in bad company
Easy does it (but do it!)
A smooth sea never made a good sailor
*I'm aware that many of these expressions originated outside of AA and NA.
If you're looking to find a 12-Step meeting in your area today, check out alcoholicsanonymous.com or search for the AA / NA intergroup website for your area ("city name + AA intergroup" will usually yield results through Google). Intherooms.com has extensive online meetings held throughout the day as well as information about how to find IRL ones in your area.
It would be cool to hear from you all about what slogans get you through your roughest moments; what experiences drove home the wisdom of one or more of the above; or anything else you'd care to share that falls into the general Experience, Strength, Hope subcategory!
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.
I love this prayer.
“Let go and let God”
Sounds so cliche right…but sometimes that’s all we have. -Mari
"You spot it, you got it" always made me think twice about why what someone else did bothered me so much.