They are about the size of a half-dollar. The first few in various colors, the rest more solid. They are round pieces of metal. They have no monetary value but mean the world to those of us as we celebrate our hours, days, weeks, months, and years of sobriety.

Sometimes it takes more than prayer and meditation to uncover why we are feeling uncomfortable with ourselves. Our Higher Power gives us others in the fellowship to help guide us in our sobriety. Sharing can offer us the clarity about ourselves that we lack.

"Mommy Doesn't Drink Here Anymore", by Rachael Brownell is a sincere, heartfelt story of a alcoholic who like many of us, is a wife, mother, daughter and friend. Read this review and I am sure you will be anxious to follow her journey as you recall your own.

Disclosing our addiction personally may not be so difficult. Disclosing our addiction to health care providers should never be a problem but it can be. How can we be honest and protect ourselves when health and life insurance becomes an issue?

Perhaps when we are in recovery we evaluate more closely how the media, particularly TV, addresses addictions. Fortunately, not everything is negative.

Are your defects the root of your addiction or are your defects the result of your addiction? It really doesn't matter. The solution to both is in willingness and our Higher Power.

We all understand the power of prayer in recovery. When things are good, prayer is easy. But when life takes a wrong turn focusing on prayer may be more difficult. So before another day goes by, ask yourself, "How do I pray?"

Summer is usually a time for most of us to feel more relaxed or to have a more casual life style. The season can also be a slippery slope especially if we become a bit lazy in our recovery and forget who we are.

The meeting rooms of AA are not without controversial issues. The one that repeats itself often is sharing an addiction, other than alcohol, with the group. Some say AA means only alcohol; others disagree. The author has her own opinion. What is yours?

Science continues to develop drugs that specifically target addictions. These are great advances but can a monthly drug truly help us recover body, mind and soul?