Control

November 4

CONTROL

I have everything in the world but control and yet it seems to be the only thing I yearn for.  Past history has made it difficult for me to have faith and I have clung to scraps of control as an alternative.  I have hope but I have hope in the way a disgruntled gambler has hope.  The horse may cross the finish line first but it’s a long shot.  This is the trouble with control.  If I could ride the horse, I might be able to exert some sway in the situation, but since my jockeying would only make things worse, my inability to secure the outcome leads me to despair and here I am.  I am not in the race.  I will not risk betting on the horse.  I have no skill accepting the capricious nature of life and work hard not to be capricious myself.  This maybe the crux of my problem; I work so hard to do things right instead of having fun.  I try constantly to keep things from going badly; I focus no time on creating joy in my life.  I may not believe much, but I do believe God wants me happy.  This could be the seed, which starts faith.

Feel free to laugh.

*

Natural Law

The boat captain can’t change the river;

navigate it possibly,

but rule it never.

Birds don’t control the wind,

only capitalize on it.

I can’t reign my sobriety,

I just get to take the ride.

My choices greatly affect the quality of this journey

but not the nature of recovery itself.

I am powerless over gravity

but am thrilled at my ability to use it to my advantage.

You are reading selections from Sober on the Way to Sane and More Lines From My Life by Sherrie Theriault

http://www.amazon.com/Sober-On-The-Way-Sane/dp/1440417342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576888&sr=8-1&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/More-Lines-From-My-Life/dp/1448677203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576956&sr=8-1&keywords=More+Lines+From+My+Life

Natural Law

August 26

NATURAL LAW

Gravity is always in effect, but invoke the laws of lift and you can make a stone fly.  I have no gills but strap on a tank and rebreather; I can share space with sharks.  Given enough willingness and step work I can walk through the world sober though every cell of my body is alcoholic.  The laws of nature are fluid.  When I flow with them I can keep my goals.  Instant gratification is often my stumbling block.  Gaining access to my far-flung desires is not impossible but it is also not immediate.

Make little plans with salt and big plans with sugar.

*

Make Use of Brown Soap

When I have death in my pocket

it makes it easy to cross the street without a glance.

A little arsenic in my in my veins

allows me to swallow the rest with no thought beyond want.

Twist the screws tight enough in my brain

and no other pressure seems problematic.

All of the trouble in the world can beat a path to my door

when I carry within me the seeds of destruction.

I have to check myself for stow-away devastation.

Ruin begins in tiny droplets but will wash me down the drain

if not wiped immediately from my skin.

Vigilant acknowledgement of the power of small burdens

protects me from the mind blown ravages of the ensuing cyclone.

Microbes cause mayhem,

so I must watch where I touch and wash before I eat.

You are reading selections from Sober on the Way to Sane and More Lines From My Life by Sherrie Theriault

http://www.amazon.com/Sober-On-The-Way-Sane/dp/1440417342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576888&sr=8-1&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/More-Lines-From-My-Life/dp/1448677203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576956&sr=8-1&keywords=More+Lines+From+My+Life

Natural Law

November 6

Natural Law

The boat captain can’t change the river; navigate it possibly, but rule it never.  Birds don’t control the wind, only capitalize on it.  I can’t reign my sobriety; I just get to take the ride.  My choices greatly affect the quality of this journey but not the nature of recovery itself.  I am powerless over gravity but am thrilled at my ability to use it to my advantage.

Desperate imitation is just that

*

MEMORIAL DAY

Veteran of the addiction wars
I have scars but few metals.
I don’t need a purple heart
Mine is black and blue.
I don’t keep trophies either
No empty bottles or old syringes.

Hostages I have released them too.
I found often they held me
From what my life could be.
I wear my defects and wave my flag.

I am slowly learning to live in peacetime.
The big battles have been won.
It is up to me to stop replaying
The scenes of engagement.

Armistice is a beautiful thing
Too bad there is no better way to get it.

You are reading selections from More Sober on the Way to Sane and Lines From My Life by Sherrie Theriault

http://www.amazon.com/More-Sober-The-Way-Sane/dp/144141231X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1374072329&sr=8-3&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/Lines-My-Life-Sherrie-Theriault/dp/1448652820/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374072576&sr=1-1&keywords=Lines+from+my+life%2C+Sherrie+theriault

Single Serving Sterling

August 16

Single Serving Sterling

When the menu of life feels vast I must focus on my teaspoon; a simple tool that fits well in my hand, whose use I well understand.  The possibilities conceived when I ponder the intangibles conspire to suck me down the rabbit-hole where all that’s left to me is a drug.  When I come back to stir my tea and lick the spoon clean the world revolves around me and without need of my completed unified theory.  Need looms, loss stacks, salvation keeps a steady distance, my only hope is to drink my tea, I shan’t even sharpen my spoon; I can and need to stay out of my fear built prison and off the streets of hell.  My task is at hand and the size of the scoop is a reminder to take all of life in small doses.

Treat hope as a living thing; feed its hunger, quench its thirst

*

NATURAL LAW

Gravity is always in effect

But invoke the laws of lift

And you can make a stone fly.

I have no gills

But strap on a tank and rebreather

And I can share space with the sharks.

Given enough willingness and step work

I can walk through the world sober

Though every cell of my body is alcoholic.

The laws of nature are fluid

When I flow with them I can keep my goals.

Instant gratification is often my stumbling block.

Gaining access to my far-flung desires

Is not impossible

But it is also not immediate.

You are reading selections from More Sober on the Way to Sane and Lines From My Life by Sherrie Theriault

http://www.amazon.com/More-Sober-The-Way-Sane/dp/144141231X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1374072329&sr=8-3&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/Lines-My-Life-Sherrie-Theriault/dp/1448652820/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374072576&sr=1-1&keywords=Lines+from+my+life%2C+Sherrie+theriault

Control

November 4

CONTROL

I have everything in the world but control and yet it seems to be the only thing I yearn for.  Past history has made it difficult for me to have faith and I have clung to scraps of control as an alternative.  I have hope but I have hope in the way a disgruntled gambler has hope.  The horse may cross the finish line first but it’s a long shot.  This is the trouble with control.  If I could ride the horse, I might be able to exert some sway in the situation, but since my jockeying would only make things worse, my inability to secure the outcome leads me to despair and here I am.  I am not in the race.  I will not risk betting on the horse.  I have no skill accepting the capricious nature of life and work hard not to be capricious myself.  This maybe the crux of my problem; I work so hard to do things right instead of having fun.  I try constantly to keep things from going badly; I focus no time on creating joy in my life.  I may not believe much, but I do believe God wants me happy.  This could be the seed, which starts faith.

Feel free to laugh.

*

Natural Law

The boat captain can’t change the river;

navigate it possibly,

but rule it never.

Birds don’t control the wind,

only capitalize on it.

I can’t reign my sobriety,

I just get to take the ride.

My choices greatly affect the quality of this journey

but not the nature of recovery itself.

I am powerless over gravity

but am thrilled at my ability to use it to my advantage.

Natural Law

August 26

NATURAL LAW

Gravity is always in effect, but invoke the laws of lift and you can make a stone fly.  I have no gills but strap on a tank and rebreather; I can share space with sharks.  Given enough willingness and step work I can walk through the world sober though every cell of my body is alcoholic.  The laws of nature are fluid.  When I flow with them I can keep my goals.  Instant gratification is often my stumbling block.  Gaining access to my far-flung desires is not impossible but it is also not immediate.

Make little plans with salt and big plans with sugar.

*

Make Use of Brown Soap

When I have death in my pocket

it makes it easy to cross the street without a glance.

A little arsenic in my in my veins

allows me to swallow the rest with no thought beyond want.

Twist the screws tight enough in my brain

and no other pressure seems problematic.

All of the trouble in the world can beat a path to my door

when I carry within me the seeds of destruction.

I have to check myself for stow-away devastation.

Ruin begins in tiny droplets but will wash me down the drain

if not wiped immediately from my skin.

Vigilant acknowledgement of the power of small burdens

protects me from the mind blown ravages of the ensuing cyclone.

Microbes cause mayhem,

so I must watch where I touch and wash before I eat.

Natural Law

November 6

Natural Law

The boat captain can’t change the river; navigate it possibly, but rule it never. Birds don’t control the wind, only capitalize on it. I can’t reign my sobriety; I just get to take the ride. My choices greatly affect the quality of this journey but not the nature of recovery itself. I am powerless over gravity but am thrilled at my ability to use it to my advantage.

Desperate imitation is just that

*

MEMORIAL DAY

Veteran of the addiction wars
I have scars but few metals.
I don’t need a purple heart
Mine is black and blue.
I don’t keep trophies either
No empty bottles or old syringes.

Hostages I have released them too.
I found often they held me
From what my life could be.
I wear my defects and wave my flag.

I am slowly learning to live in peacetime.
The big battles have been won.
It is up to me to stop replaying
The scenes of engagement.

Armistice is a beautiful thing
Too bad there is no better way to get it.

Natural Law

November 6

Natural Law

The boat captain can’t change the river; navigate it possibly, but rule it never. Birds don’t control the wind, only capitalize on it. I can’t reign my sobriety; I just get to take the ride. My choices greatly affect the quality of this journey but not the nature of recovery itself. I am powerless over gravity but am thrilled at my ability to use it to my advantage.

Desperate imitation is just that

*

MEMORIAL DAY

Veteran of the addiction wars
I have scars but few metals.
I don’t need a purple heart
Mine is black and blue.
I don’t keep trophies either
No empty bottles or old syringes.

Hostages I have released them too.
I found often they held me
From what my life could be.
I wear my defects and wave my flag.

I am slowly learning to live in peacetime.
The big battles have been won.
It is up to me to stop replaying
The scenes of engagement.

Armistice is a beautiful thing
Too bad there is no better way to get it.

Natural Law

August 26

NATURAL LAW



Gravity is always in effect, but invoke the laws of lift and you can make a stone fly. I have no gills but strap on a tank and rebreather; I can share space with sharks. Given enough willingness and step work I can walk through the world sober though every cell of my body is alcoholic. The laws of nature are fluid. When I flow with them I can keep my goals. Instant gratification is often my stumbling block. Gaining access to my far-flung desires is not impossible but it is also not immediate.


Make little plans with salt and big plans with sugar.