How private is your recovery? When, why and to whom do you reveal your addiction? When necessary I prefer to reveal my recovery not my addiction. Recovery is the good news and evidence I am living in the now.

Believing in a Higher Power is crucial to recovery. The key, however, to living a life of peace and serenity is not only believing but having a daily, conscious contact with God.

Expectations breed resentment because we place too much trust in another person. Try using confident expectancy instead. It keeps us focused and positive and the source is our Higher Power.

No matter what method we use to begin recovery we must look at why we just couldn´t quit in the first place. This is a reminder for those already in a 12 Step program and an invitation for those not yet in recovery to learn more.

When we have a problem that doesn't want to go away, we try to take action and then pray for a solution. Sometimes we have to listen to the world around us to find the answer to our prayers.

All of those daily prayer and meditation books we buy are great. But did you ever think about creating your own daily focus and making it what you really need? Every now and then it is a healthy alternative.

Denial is what keeps most folks away from recovery. We work Step One and we admit we are powerless over our addiction. But what about that defect that won't go away? Is it really a defect or are we denying that it is another addiction?

This comes on the coat tails of "An Attitude of Gratitude"; a thanks to all of you who have kept me trudging the road to happy destiny in 2008.

Gratitude is not something that always comes easy. Sometimes we have to learn or relearn how to be grateful and what we should be grateful for.

As the last article of the year, I wanted to re-introduce one of my first articles. Some things don't change. Do you want or need a 12 Step Recovery Program? Here are a few reasons why it will be the best 12 steps you ever take.