I share my recent story of recovery and growth. How I came through a period of depression to learn a new lesson about how important it is to forgive myself as well as forgive other for the hurt I experienced while I was an addict alcoholic.

The meditation for today, which simply means something to contemplate, is a story I share about open-mindedness and what makes me happy.

I had a convo with someone who just couldn't understand why someone who wanted to quick drinking (or whatever) simply couldn't so here's a some of what I told her.

Well today was a challenge for me cause I selected a pretty provocative topic, the Buddha's teaching that everything is of the mind. Let's just call this part 1 knowing we'll be back to this puzzle again.

Today I further explain how I use meditation. I use a few examples but primarily I share my understanding of unconditional love and how I used meditation to find it.

Today I express my understand of simple meditation. I have used meditation and viewed in a couple of ways.

Today I begin with the intention of summarizing and giving a general overview of the life of the Buddha, his first teachings and a little about what they mean. Instead I end up giving myself a lesson in balance which was the first understanding the Buddha had that lead to his enlightenment.

Step 11 reads: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out.

So Today I add a little further commentary to what prayer means to me and how I use it in my life as an agnostic Buddhist.

Today I give a summary about Step 11 and improving contact with my higher power. In this episode I explain how I use prayer to find focus in my life and meditation to improve myself and my Good Orderly Direction which for me is G.O.D.

Today I look at Step 8 being two things; a list of people I feel I have wronged and finding the willingness to make amends. In Step 9 I apply how I feel I can make amends to each.

Then with the remaining time I explain how I looked to Benjamin Franklin for a shining example of how I can continue to take personal inventory. I give a very brief overview of his list of Thirteen Virtues.