February 16

Gratitude. You knew you were gonna read this word as soon as you got this book. The book has an F-word in the title, but it’s not like that makes the author a heathen! There are things to be grateful for, aren’t there? You have eyes to read these words, the pocket change, or the means to obtain this book. All the things around you, your breath. The basics. You woke up today! Holy shit! Is that not awesome? Sometimes we forget what it took to get us here and how much of a miracle it really is. Had the Earth been a few degrees hotter and positioned differently in space if your parents never met or decided not to have children, their parents, etc.? So much could have gone so fucking wrong. And here you sit, pissed off that things didn’t go exactly your way. But they did. They really did.

Reflections

Can you recall a time when you were mad/angry all the time? Maybe you are there right now. What were/are you angry at? How’s that working for you?

Daily Challenge

You knew this was coming! Make a gratitude list. At least ten things, but no more than twenty. Get focused.

February 15

Hey go-getter! All that false positivity ain’t gonna get you shit. We’ve all seen it before. You can have all the gold, riches, cars, extra house, and big boy toys all you want, but nothing compares to the peace of heart and mind. Do you know what gets that? Virtue. Your behavior that shows high moral standards. That’s what virtue is. Or maybe the four cardinal virtues of courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom. These four virtues are considered fundamental in the building of a solid soul.

Reflections

What have you done lately that involved the four cardinal virtues?

Daily Challenge

Research the four cardinal virtues. Fully understand the definitions of each.

February 14

The opposite of love is not hate. It’s indifference. Have you ever tried someone’s patience so fucking much that they no longer even hate you? Your actions have caused them to simply ignore you, as though you no longer even fucking existed! It’s cold shit. You literally don’t matter to them anymore. Maybe you haven’t noticed the impact of your actions on someone like this, but it does happen. These people don’t make grand gestures about it. One day, they decide that they have had enough, and – poof! - they have made up their minds. They no longer care to either love or hate you. The change is noticeable. They stop calling or don’t reply. The texts stop. When you see them in passing, they are always busy. You don’t see that YOU stepped on the toes of those around you one too many times, and sometimes, the only way they can retaliate is by negating your existence altogether.

Reflections

How many relationships have you had that you thought were great? Still, for some reason (unknown to you), they no longer come around anymore? Have you ever decided to be indifferent to someone?

Daily Challenge

Get on Facebook and look for that old friend. Tell them how much they mean to you. Then, let the rest happen on its own from there.

February 13

Don’t limit your influences. Don’t sit in the judgment of others and close your mind/heart to the good stuff they have to say. So many times in our lives, we have sat in judgment of someone because they spoke from a podium or pulpit. We judge their politics or way of life because we don’t agree with or see the contradictions in what they say versus their actions. But we are all human, are we not? We all live in some form of denial. Some of us are just more deceived than others. Hear them out. Listen. Pan for the fucking gold! “Where da’ gold at!” Deposit the gold and throw the black sand back into the river. You will never agree with everyone’s philosophy or way of living. Still, you can undoubtedly formulate your own, but only after you have discerned from listening to others.

Reflections

When was the last time you read a book with a dramatically different viewpoint than your own?

Daily Challenge

Seek a message that conflicts with your heart. Try to understand the other person’s point of view or motivations. Don’t go too far. You might end up loving the fucking “enemy.”

February 12

Some people walk in nature. Others walk along the pews. Some sit for hours, and others take a knee every morning. Prayer can take many forms. We all worship differently. Even people that sit side by side in a church have a different understanding of a Higher Power. Not a single one of us has the same relationship with the Devine. “The prayers prayed under covers need no kneeling.” It is a song lyric from an '80s band. If you understand what it means to be scared and pray for safety, you know the lyrics. The idea here is simple. Try prayer if you are in pain and at the end of your rope. Whatever form that takes for you. And after the crisis has passed, try it again. You might be surprised how this impacts your outlook.

Reflections

Do you believe in God? Do you believe in a Higher Power? Do you act like it, or are you still directing the Universe? If you don’t have a concept of a Higher Power, what can you use?

Daily Challenge

Define your Higher Power. Sit down and write a paragraph about the qualities of your Higher Power. Keep it simple.

February 11

You’re not crazy. No matter how often you read it in a doctor’s report or hear it from your friends, family, or coworkers. You are not crazy. You have listened to it so much from other people, but you know you’re not. Have you had a hard go at life? Maybe. Have you had emotional ups and downs? Absolutely. But are you really CRAZY? You know the answer. So, stop letting those words dictate who you are or how you act. You have suffered at the opinions of others for long enough. Today is when you stop listening to the voice they crafted and begin to create and listen to your own. You deserve it.

Reflections

Do you have a voice in your head that speaks to you all day? We all do. What does it say? Is it primarily negative, or is it sometimes encouraging? What is the voice you listen to? Where does that voice come from?

Daily Challenge

Tell someone how fucked up you feel. Cry. Scream. Get angry. But just get it the fuck out into the air. You’ll feel better for it.

Summary

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Summary

In this episode, Carl and Chelsea discuss the importance of persistence and consistency in recovery. They reflect on their own experiences and share insights on what got them to where they are today. The conversation touches on the challenges of maintaining sobriety, the need for honesty, and the importance of self-improvement. They also discuss the daily challenge of identifying positive behaviors and making small adjustments to stay on track. Overall, the episode emphasizes the ongoing journey of recovery and the importance of staying committed to personal growth. In this conversation, Carl and Chelsea discuss the importance of staying active and maintaining sobriety. They also touch on the importance of building a support system. The conversation concludes with some final thoughts.

Takeaways

February 10

“If you are persistent, you will get it, and if you are consistent, you will keep it.” – Unkown

Early in recovery, it is not easy to look back and remember how you got there. You spent all those days putting the drink/drug down, only to pick it back up days later. That feeling of defeat and the endlessly repeated cycle. For some of us, it almost seemed endless; for others, they embraced the thought and resigned themselves to a life of drinking. But you kept trying, somehow. Finally, you got a few days here and there, and that “practice” of persistence paid off one fated day. You learned how to put a few more days together each time, and when you were ready, you made it out. Today, all that is needed to keep the momentum going is consistency with what got you here.

Reflections

Are you being consistent in your recovery today? What got you here?

Daily Challenge

Pick one positive behavior you know you should be doing each day and make today the day you begin to do that for the rest of your life. Big or small.

February 9

Are you being tested? Is God devising a gauntlet of treacherous obstacles in your path to see if you can live up to the Almighty’s expectations? Is “God giving you as much as you can handle?” When you hear this, doesn’t it make you want to roll your eyes like a 14-year-old girl watching her mom and dad dance at her boyfriend’s birthday party? Awkward! “Mom! Dad! Stop it! You’re embarrassing me!” – God knows everything already, right? God knows what we do and what we are going to do. God does not need to “test us.” You’re not being tested. This is life. This is how it goes; nobody sets you up to win or lose. The deck is not stacked, but you do have to play the cards you’re dealt. So, if you are going through something today, this week, or this year, remember you can always bluff! No! Damn it! You can always split! Shit! That doesn’t work either! Double down? Fucking gambling metaphors! Just don’t fold, okay? Just don’t fold.

Reflections

Do you think that everyone is out to get you? Are you getting picked on? When was the last time you felt like that?

Daily Challenge

Pray today for wisdom and guidance to help someone other than your selfish motherfucking self!

February 8

Are you “in the program?” No, really? Are you in? People talk about going out all the time, but you can’t really “go out” if you haven’t been “in.” What does it mean to be “in?” First, you’re in if you say you’re in. But don’t fool yourself with this simple statement. Do you feel it? Does the whole thing resonate with you? Do you make it part of your life and attempt to apply all the principles in “all of your affairs?”? Or is it something you can’t say with conviction? Then, when the time comes to “carry the message,” do you stay home and watch your favorite team lose another game or season and not make the playoffs again? This time, try going “in” before you “go out.”

Reflections

The “program” isn’t everything. But it can provide you with a solid community and set of principles to build a foundation for a beautiful life. When was the last time you felt truly connected?

Daily Challenge

Go to a fucking meeting today. Physical, phone, and/or ZOOM. Make time.