Meditation is hard, y'all. But it's also super worth it. It's our opportunity to invite in the sunlight of the spirit, and it's humbling to be bad at it and do it anyway. 12x12 page 98, step 11.

Sometimes, the struggle is real! And what there is to do is quit fighting it. Relaxing into the struggle - in my experience - is the only way to get to the other side of it feeling sane. And then I wake up the next day and usually feel different. Big Book pages 86-87.

Self pity is like a drug - once I start, I can't stop! Just need more to keep that party going. Until I get off the ride, which requires reaching out to others and getting some perspective. (And some love). Daily Reflections, April 13th.

All the negative aspects of fear (anxiety, dread, worry, uncertainty, and apprehension) tend to build up and lurk in the back of my head when I don't shine a light back there and talk about 'em. The Little Red Book page 59.

Learning to pray to a higher power of our understanding and hand all our mess over. Big Book page 215.

I used drinking to try and connect with people but always felt empty. It wasn't until I got sober that I learned to love myself and fill my own spiritual/emotional cup. Big Book pages 338-339. ("Because I'm an Alcoholic")

HALT! One of the most useful acronyms in my sobriety: hungry, angry, lonely, tired. Pause when agitated and ask if any of those things apply. Technically, I read from Living Sober page 30 - "Getting Plenty of Rest." (Easier said than done sometimes).

We don't have to figure out our concept of a higher power in order to work the steps and get results. We can just kinda show up and take it a little bit at a time and eventually we'll probably realize that somewhere along the way we cultivated something that works for us. 12x12, Step 2 pages 26-27.

A sponsor is somebody who has what I want - usually because they've been through a lot of the stuff I've been through or am going through. And it's really super helpful to both have a sponsor and to get to sponsor others. Living Sober pages 26-27.

We are quick learners and faster forgetters, as they say. And I come to meetings and talk to my sponsor and have service commitments to remind myself that left to my own devices, I am without defense against the first drink. For real. Big Book page 24.