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Jay and Diane explore the idea of contributions from the NA (Narcotics Anonymous) Daily Reader. 

Each person has a unique quality to offer others on their journey. The reading reminds us that we may be exactly the person someone needs at a particular moment, even when we doubt our ability to help effectively.

Our podcast represents our 12th step work by offering both the addict and codependent perspectives and sharing our journey as a couple who survived addiction together

Question: What are some ways people have contributed to your recovery from addictions, like alcoholism, pornography, overeating, etc?

Jay and Diane's Just For The Day podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Just for Today, any 12-Step program, or any other recovery-based product or organization. They should not replace your regular group or sponsor meetings.

The views expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests. Take what you like and leave the rest.

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Jay and Diane share thoughts on the Narcotics Anonymous Daily Reader for August 21 - Friendships. They discuss how addictions tend to isolate us and how friendships formed in recovery tend to be deeper than regular, superficial friendships because they're founded on mutual vulnerability and honesty.
They discuss the work required to maintain friendships and how important your choice of friends in determining your future.

Question: How have your strongest friendships been forged and/or what do you do to maintain those friendships?

Jay and Diane's Just For The Day podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Just for Today, any 12-Step program, or any other recovery-based product or organization. They should not replace your regular group or sponsor meetings.

The views expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests. Take what you like and leave the rest.

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Diane and Jay explore the powerful topic of facing death in recovery, discussing how loss can either break us temporarily or help us reprioritize relationships and find deeper meaning in life. They examine how grief manifests in unexpected ways, like anniversary reactions to deaths, and share personal stories of generational addiction trauma.

• True love acknowledges mortality and makes relationships more precious because of their temporary nature
• Anniversary dates of deaths often carry emotional weight, causing illness or depression weeks before
• Unfinished business with family members creates grief, regret, and opportunities for personal growth
• Experiencing others' limitations in relationships can motivate us to create different connections with our own children
• Reframing past hurts as opportunities for growth transforms resentment into gratitude
• Different spiritual beliefs create varied experiences of grief and death
• Connection with others is essential when processing grief in recovery

If you're struggling with grief in recovery, please reach out. You don't have to face these feelings alone—connect with a program, home group, or contact us directly.

Question: What gives you strength when loved ones die, especially as a result of addictions?

Jay and Diane's Just For The Day podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Just for Today, any 12-Step program, or any other recovery-based product or organization. They should not replace your regular group or sponsor meetings.

The views expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests. Take what you like and leave the rest.

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Ever felt paralyzed by the enormity of what needs changing in your life? You're not alone.

"All we've got to change is everything" – this seemingly impossible task confronts many of us entering recovery. We explore the powerful recovery concept of "First Things First" and how focusing solely on the next right step can transform overwhelming challenges into manageable progress.

• Present moment awareness helps us avoid anxiety (future-focused) and depression (past-focused)
• Our mental capacity is limited to approximately seven pieces of information at once
• Holding onto resentments occupies valuable mental bandwidth we need for recovery
• Like Superman learning to filter overwhelming sensory input, we must learn to prioritize
• Breaking large tasks into smaller components makes progress possible
• Small, consistent efforts create more lasting change than dramatic one-time actions
• Perfectionism blocks progress while "good enough" allows us to move forward
• Recovery happens through taking one step at a time with intention

Question: How do you maintain focus on the present and avoid feeling overwhelmed in your addictions?

Jay and Diane's Just For The Day podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Just for Today, any 12-Step program, or any other recovery-based product or organization. They should not replace your regular group or sponsor meetings.

The views expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests. Take what you like and leave the rest.

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"How long do I have to go to these meetings?" Every person in recovery has asked this question, revealing our tendency to view addiction as a temporary problem rather than a lifelong journey. In this candid conversation, Jay and Diane explore why recovery must come first—not just to stay clean, but to truly transform our lives.

Drawing from their combined years in 12-step programs, they share vulnerable stories about what happened when they stepped away from meetings. "I like myself better when I'm a regular meeting attender," Diane admits, while Jay reflects on how recovery saved him from missing precious moments with his children. Their honest dialogue reveals how recovery addresses not just addiction but the underlying patterns of self-centeredness, obsessiveness, and compulsive behaviors that affect every area of life.

The hosts offer a powerful reframing: addiction is like diabetes—not something cured in a month, but a condition requiring lifelong management. They walk listeners through the grief process many experience when accepting this reality, from denial and bargaining to the unexpected gift of gratitude that emerges on the other side. Whether you're new to recovery or questioning your continued attendance, this episode reminds us that recovery isn't just about avoiding substances—it's about embracing a completely new way of living, one day at a time.

Question: When did you realize recovery doesn't have a "quick fix"?

Jay and Diane's Just For The Day podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Just for Today, any 12-Step program, or any other recovery-based product or organization. They should not replace your regular group or sponsor meetings.

The views expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests. Take what you like and leave the rest.

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Jay and Diane break down Step One of the 12-step program, exploring what it means to admit powerlessness over addiction and acknowledge life's unmanageability.

• Step One reads: "We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable"
• Customize this step by substituting relevant terms (alcohol, food, other people's behaviors)
• Powerlessness can be empowering by narrowing our focus on things that are within our control
• Recovery involves identifying "red behaviors" (the addiction), "yellow behaviors" (triggers), and "green behaviors" (addressing underlying wounds and choosing healing activities)
• People who are "white knuckling" their sobriety may be focusing on symptoms rather than addressing root causes

Join us next Sunday as we continue our exploration of the 12 Steps with more in-depth questions and nuanced discussion.

Question: What is the hardest part of admitting powerlessness for you and why?

Jay and Diane's Just For The Day podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Just for Today, any 12-Step program, or any other recovery-based product or organization. They should not replace your regular group or sponsor meetings.

The views expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests. Take what you like and leave the rest.

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This daily reading discusses how spiritual growth is never static—it's either growing or decaying, just like physical exercise where muscles atrophy when not used. When we stand still in recovery, our progress loses momentum and gradually reverses.

• Creating new pathways requires conscious effort, like forging a new path off the beaten trail
• Relapse can be a learning opportunity, not the end of progress
• Red, yellow, and green behaviors form a target analogy for understanding addiction patterns
• Red behaviors are the addictive acts themselves
• Yellow behaviors are warning signs and triggers that lead toward addiction
• Green behaviors are positive actions that naturally move us away from addiction
• Creativity is essential—"creativity undeployed metastasizes in the body"
• Active participation means more than just attending meetings—find a sponsor, work the steps, seek service opportunities
• Spiritual growth looks different for everyone

If you're feeling stuck, go through the 12 steps again and ask yourself: Where have I stopped? What step needs my attention right now? Recovery isn't a destination but a daily journey.

Question: What daily practices keep you from backsliding in your recovery program?

Jay and Diane's Just For The Day podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Just for Today, any 12-Step program, or any other recovery-based product or organization. They should not replace your regular group or sponsor meetings.

The views expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests. Take what you like and leave the rest.

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Recovery programs use "Just for Today" as a powerful tool to make overwhelming challenges manageable by focusing only on present commitments rather than permanent change.

• "Just for Today" can be scaled down to whatever timeframe feels manageable—an hour, ten minutes, or even seconds
• This approach extends beyond addiction recovery to any area where permanent change feels overwhelming
• Works effectively for food choices and other behaviors by avoiding the pressure of permanent commitments
• Both "Just for Today" and "Just for Tonight" create a rhythm of manageable commitment and gentle reflection

We appreciate you listening to our first slogans episode and would love to hear how you've implemented this slogan in your life. Please leave comments wherever you listen to podcasts—we'll be featuring your insights in future episodes.

Question: What does Just For Today mean to you and how do you use this slogan?

Jay and Diane's Just For The Day podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Just for Today, any 12-Step program, or any other recovery-based product or organization. They should not replace your regular group or sponsor meetings.

The views expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests. Take what you like and leave the rest.

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Recovery is a gradual process that unfolds over time, not an overnight transformation that happens instantly. We explore why it's unrealistic to expect years of destructive habits to dissolve quickly and how comparing your progress to others can harm your journey.

• Recovery takes commitment to a lifelong journey of healing and growth
• Addiction symptoms are often band-aids covering deeper underlying issues
• Small, manageable steps create sustainable progress in recovery
• Focus on "the next meeting" or "the next right thing" when overwhelmed
• Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to someone else today
• Reframe struggles as evidence of growth to transform your experience
• Progress happens through consistency and patience, not perfection

Keep plugging along and be patient with yourself—as long as you're moving forward, it doesn't matter how fast you're going.

Question: How do you focus on your long term progress instead of your short term  mistakes?

Jay and Diane's Just For The Day podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Just for Today, any 12-Step program, or any other recovery-based product or organization. They should not replace your regular group or sponsor meetings.

The views expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests. Take what you like and leave the rest.

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We explore how examining and letting go of self-imposed limitations is a crucial part of the recovery journey, particularly through Step Four's moral inventory process.

• The limitations we carry often come from childhood experiences and family rules
• Step Four helps us discover which rules and beliefs we want to keep and which no longer serve us
• Limitations, like perfectionism, often tie self-worth to actions like productivity and performance
• Recovery allows us to identify, examine, and gently let go of limitations when we're ready
• Sitting with discomfort rather than escaping it can lead to growth and deeper self-understanding
• The program is gentle – we tackle what we're ready for and leave the rest for when the time is right

Just for today, let go of your self-imposed limitations and open your mind to new ideas.

Question: What limitations have you held onto from your childhood?

Jay and Diane's Just For The Day podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Just for Today, any 12-Step program, or any other recovery-based product or organization. They should not replace your regular group or sponsor meetings.

The views expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests. Take what you like and leave the rest.