Society today is all about instant gratification. Patience and tolerance must be our code not just with others but with ourselves and our recovery.

The literature of Alcoholics Anonymous may sound dated. The beauty of this and other 12 Step recovery programs is that they work if we work them. Would we really want to change it all just to reflect a new millenium?

Recovery requires that we get some type of encouragement and support from our family and friends. The way you want that to happen is not always the way it works.

Responsibility and purpose...two important elements to maintain sobriety. Are we willing to give back to everyone in need or do we only help those within our comfort zone?

There are times when our recovery is challenged by difficult events in life. How we handle these are a true measure and testament to the strength of our recovery and the 12 Steps.

How do you see yourself in the future? Do you envision yourself happier and more serene than who you are today? If you do, it doesn't just happen. It takes practice, practice, practice!

We each learn to pray in our own way in our own words but nothing inspires us more than the Serenity Prayer and The Prayer of St. Francis. These combined with The Lord's Prayer are powerful tools in recovery.

Our children may not acknowledge our addiction(s) because of their age or the situation. What we must understand is that when we are in our disease, we are not the only person being judged. Our children may suffer more than we know and it isn't about them.

How much a person drinks does not necessarily make him an alcoholic. A person could drink heavily and never cross the line. It is not only what we put in our body; it is what goes on in our head.

Mother's Day is one of the most celebrated days of the year. Not every woman is a mother but we are all daughters. Examine your own relationship, past or present, with your mom. Are/were you the best daughter you could be?