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 (212) 870-3400
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
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GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT
It's
to bad that we don't grasp the "Garbage In, Garbage Out" philosophy
more than we do. It appears that many of us have worked very hard to
get where we are. Staying clean, service work, helping others,
getting out of ourselves, becoming productive members of society
again, etc. But allot of us wonder why we still struggle with some
issues like depression, anger, loneliness, stress, and frustration.
When we entered recovery, when we turned our will and life over to the care of God, we realized that we had to change everything about ourselves in order to become healthy. We had no reservations about that. It was not negotiable. Not only had we been guilty of using drugs and alcohol, sex, food, etc., we also had been living in such a way as to contribute to those abuses. We didn't get here by talking and hanging around healthy people, by spending quality and quantity time deep in spiritual thought, or walking daily with our Higher Power---- On the contrary. Not only were we sticking alcohol in our liver, needles in our arms and THC in our lungs, but we were sticking garbage in our heads as well. The music we listen to, the shows we watch, the books we read, and the people we hang out with, will dictate what kind of quality of life goes into your brain and also into your heart. It will also determine what comes out. If Ozzy's music is not to be taken seriously, if Bay Watch isn't about sex, If Playboy isn't about the abuse of women, then what are they about? Are they about healthy fun, or spiritual awareness? How about developing a deeper relationship with God? Do they contribute to your sobriety? Do they make you feel fulfilled and refreshed every day? Or are they full of negative, shaming, and degrading words, pictures, actions, and life styles. Do we look up to these people and organizations, networks and musicians with respect and admiration? Do they really have something healthy that we want? Come on folks, give yourself a break. Don't sell yourself short by sticking garbage in your head, it really does nothing for your maturity and growth. I suppose if you think that listening to songs, watching movies, reading books about Satan, rape, abuse, disobedience, hating your parents, free will without boundaries, killing, death, and destruction is funny or encouraging, then go ahead, but your selling yourself short, and aren't you worth more than that. I was at a 12 Step meeting the other day when I saw some folks in the parking lot who also attended the meeting. They had their music turned up and what do you suppose the music was glorifying? The use and abuse of drugs. PLEASE, give me a break. They might as well have been standing up against the door of a dope house listening to the conversations of the folks inside who were consuming dope. So ask yourself this. Are you having problems with your anger, your self pity, your desire to use, your self esteem, etc.? Consider what your putting into your head. It might just be what is coming out of your mouth and back into your head again. Consider it. Blessings and Progress to All. Monty "man"
Meditation:
God, Please help me have the strength to remove those
things in my life that have a negative influence on my thought
process.
Today I will take five minutes to pray for guidance
in this area. I don not want to sell myself short.
I will determine to go without the garbage I have
been putting in my head for 30 days. I will make myself accountable
to one other person and ask them if they see a change in my attitude
when that time is up.
© Recovery Times. All rights reserved. Recovery Times has but one purpose and goal, and that is to carry the message of 12-Step Recovery -- as written and practiced in its founding organization's (AA's) unaltered 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, and 12 Concepts for World Service, but not limited to only AA-sanctioned material (such as The Holy Bible, The Koran, The Upanishads, etc.). Recovery Times is not affiliated nor approved with or by any 12 Step organizations. Recovery Times publishes only each author's opinions or positions on all matters, and doesn't necessarily agree or disagree with anyone on anything. Our Principles and Protocols are expressed beautifully in the Prayer of St. Francis (p.99, 12-Steps and 12-Traditions). Site best viewed at 1024 x 768 with Internet Explorer
© STS Recovery Publications 2004 / Monty Dale Meyer All Rights Reserved.
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