La Hacienda

It’s that time again, the Hill Country Round Up is coming up August 26-28.  As always the fellowship is taking over the Inn of the Hills with speakers from all over the country!  The Outpost Recovery Club will be serving up their famous breakfast tacos and La Ha will have our hospitality room with Joe grilling hot dogs.  After all the good food and great speakers you can hit the pool, play tennis or head down to the Guadalupe!  See you there! 

Looking for something to do this weekend??  The 65th Annual Texas State AA Convention is this weekend in San Antonio!  It will be held at the Crowne Plaza Riverwalk.  They are offering a special conference room rate but you will have to contact the hotel to see if it is still available.  

It is promised that it will be one big birthday bash since AA’s birthday was June 10th!

Does music move your soul? There is an entire recovery music movement going on; Sunlight of the Spirit Music is the first place to find it.  They feature over 152 CD’s of 12-Step and recovery music.  You can sample and buy music from the site, and find out about upcoming events and festivals.

Be sure and check out their 9 tips for using 12-Step and Recovery music.

Enjoy rockin’ out, dancing, or singing in the shower. 

Am I glowing??

A day to Bask in the Sunlight of the Spirit, that was the promise for the Day of Reflection on the 11th Step at the Holy Name Retreat Center last weekend.  The Houston recovery community is blessed to have the Holy Name Retreat Center as a friend.  Throughout the year they have lots of affordable weekend retreats for many different 12 step fellowships.  Last year they experimented with the Day of Reflection and it was a huge success.  I was determined not to miss it again!   The day flew by with speakers, small group discussions and meditations.  It was all about GOD, all DAY!!  Here are the gentle reminders I walked away with.

1. Sought through prayer and meditation….. 5 minutes of quiet meditation is not as long as my brain tells me it is.  There are some great iphone meditation apps out there.

2.  A daily inventory keeps me close to God and my fellows.

3.  A daily gratitude list is a good suggestion, it keeps me focused on all the things that positive things God is doing in my life.

4.  There are benefits of journaling.  This works for some to get the “crazies” out of our heads and onto paper.  The author Julia Cameron suggests Morning Pages.

5.  I was also reminded of the book, God Speaks Your Love Language.  It discusses all the intimate ways people connect to God.  During the Day of Reflection we were able to experience prayer and meditation several different ways; prayer labyrinth, silence, guided meditation, and a burning ceremony. 

The Big Book tells on page 85, “What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition”.

How are you growing spiritually today?   

(photo via)

Have you seen Intherooms.com? It is like a private Facebook for people in recovery.  You “join” a 12-Step fellowship, list your anniversary date, and everyone is talking about recovery.  They also have recovery blogs you can follow and speaker tapes to download.   You can connect to people all over the country doing the deal!  If you sign up for the Daily Meditation you will have inspiration waiting for you when you log on in the morning.  Is music your thing?  There are lots of links to recovery radio stations and featured recovery music artists.  A nationwide event list is posted so if you travel a lot you could check and see what 12-step events are in the area.  

It really kind of opens up a whole new world.

Disclaimer: La Hacienda does not endorse everything that is represented on Intherooms.com.  As always, take what you want and leave the rest.

Good morning all,

It’s such a joy to get all the calls and emails from you Alumni out there “Doing The Deal”!  Man, some of you were so broken with so many issues and no hope of ever solving them.  Now you are on the firing line of life!!  You found a good SOLUTION based meeting, got a sponsor, worked the 12 steps, and are carrying the message! Oh, and let’s not forget, the obsession to drink and use has been lifted because you are now tapped into the power of God.

We know that working and reworking the Twelve Steps provides us a guaranteed spiritual experience. Our lives change when we take the action!  What doesn’t work??Thinking, especially since “the main problem of the alcoholic and addict centers in our mind, not in our body.”  You can’t fix the problem with the problem.   Arguing, talking, rationalizing, and just going to meetings won’t do it either.  I see people, over and over again, wasting massive amounts of time, energy and money by seeking answers in all the wrong places.  They never understand that what they need is patiently waiting for them through the 12 step programs (GOD).  If we are to be free, there’s no way of getting around the work, trust me, it is the easier, softer, way!  Come join us, and live as spiritually awakened human beings.

Peace and love,

Joe

Renew Magazine

This is a great new magazine for people in recovery.  I met James, the President and Publisher, at a conference 2 years ago.  He didn’t have the actual magazine yet but was telling us about his plans and concepts.  It is so amazing to see his dreams realized and what a fabulous job he has done.  Our patients have the opportunity to sign up for a few free issues after leaving treatment.  They can then decide if they would like to subscribe.  Of course, nothing can be all things for all people so remember to take what you like and leave the rest.