24hourteam.org

What is Freedom?

I think that there are as many different determinations of freedom as

as there are people.Many of us …..Yes, Me included take this wonderful

thing called freedom for granted.

In this great country we live in we stop and celebrate July 4 each year

to honor all those who fought for our freedom.Many died for that right.

Many more fought hard and returned to enjoy  their freedom.

I had a third grade teacher who used to tell us that,” You can swing

your arm in any direction you choose any time you choose until

you hit someone else.”

Freedom is a free gift that is easiley abused.

We are free to choose…Right from wrong.

We are free to pick our Lifestyle. Yet so many lose that choice

becaue of poor choises or lack of understanding just how powerful

freedom can be.

We can drink alcohol but when we abuse it we forfeit that freedom.

We have freedom of speach until we try to abuse others with it.

Self-centered, self-seeking,selfish people usually abuse the basic

freedoms because the don’t understand the concept for freedom. Live

and let Live should be our guide line.Others have the right to be who

they are and to do what they do.It is there freedom and right and no

one should try to change or control them.

Let us take a look at our basic freedoms and use this Day…

the 4th of July 2010 to celebrate our freedom in a pleasant way.

Just imagine a 24hourteam that feels grateful that we are

so free….God Bless Amercia. Do something today that is

good. Help a friend or neighbor…No string attached.

Ask someone you know just how he or she served our country.You

will be suprised at how many have sacrifed for your Freedom.Even

people non-military scarficed dearly for our freedom in times of crisis.

Amercia is so great because of People helping People.

Hang-in-there and enjoy each 24 hours of Freedom…..John

I recently read an article on self-improvement that I really liked and I want

to share it with you.It explained to me what it takes to maintain a  lasting

relationship.Something I needed to hear because I have been very poor in

this department.Whether or not we believe it, relationships are important.

We cannot survive without others in our life. So why do we let our ego

get in our way so often…..

My Mind and Your Mind keeps an account on all the things we do.

Good or Bad , it makes no difference.

In order to perserve and keep healthy relationships there are a few simple

things we must do….It helps if we do them each 24 hours as we go.

         You must be honest with them.Especially ones that are close to us.

         You must be  able to listen to others problems and woe’s.

         You must be thoughtful,kind,  and considerate.

         You must be abe to admit when you are wrong and  apologize.

        You must be understanding…Remember…  A friend is on who stays

        with  you when others leave.

        Flip Side

        These are the things that will drive people away…Even

        the ones that you think will last forever.

        Being Self-centered…High and Mighty Looking down and talking

        down to others. You may recognize it as… Judging.

         Lying to them.

         Not keeping promises.

        Not showing proper respect.

        No contact for a while and then expecting them to be different.

        Having an affair with someone they love and respect.

        Losing your cool and taking your emotional frustations out

         on them…In plain Language…Going nuts or bananas on them.

Check your Account today… Do what you can to maintaine your

relationships. They are important …Keep them Special.

Until Next Time…John      Have a great Day.

THIS COVERS A BROAD SPACE ANY MANY DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT

PEOPLE BELIEVE OR AT LEAST HOLD AS TRUTH.

Anonymity—-As anonymity is the “spiritual foundation of all our

Traditions,” we practice on public A A websites at all times.

I realize just how important Anonmity is to anyone who is in a 12 step

program, which-ever one that may be.However my blog 24hourteam.org

does not require anyone to be in any 12 step program.I am commited to

help anyone live a good life each 24 hours.each day One Day At A Time

no matter what your problem may be.I don’t even need to know what

that problem is.

On another blog that I put information on, that represents   aadistrict12

I made a mistake and broke someones anonymity.I am glad that this was

brought to my attention. I will do my best not to mention full names or use

photos.

I am not directly affiliated with  the  links I have used but do indorse them.

I sincerly hope that they may be helpful to someone who needs

24 hour help.  This is meant  to broaden the scope of help and needed

information.Thanks…Until Next Time ….John

PRACTICE MAKES PREFECT

For many years I head this statement and believed it to be

the absolute truth.

NEWSFLASH….. Practice improves what it is you are doing

Sincere Practice……Deticated and good practice always improves

your skills.

Mediocore or Poor Practices….Does you no good at all, sometimes it

could even harms you chances of success.

Along with practice must come an honest desire to be the best at

whatever it it you are trying to achieve.

SOMETHING TO REMEMBER

A story is going around about a Pro Basketball player.As kid his

Dad built him a backyard basketball goal and court to play.Soon he

became quite good at it and got into the slow lane and decieded that

since he was good enough to beat his local friends he no longer

needed to practice.

A PROFOUND STATEMENT…..

One day his Dad told him that someone out there is practicing.

If you don’t practice yourself…..when you meet that person he

is going to beat you.

Needless to say, he  was a high school star,a college star,and professional

great.

I was a very poor player in high school. So is decieded to stay after school

and practice. I remained a poor player until one evening a coach noticed

me and started givng me tips on how to practice. I did improve until I

made the team. Thanks to that teacher…He just loved to help kids.

Practice living right each 24 hours…. It will definately make a difference.

You Guessed Right…Until Next Time…John

Growth…Somestimes Quickly…Somestimes Slowly 

I  can only tell you about me and really I don’t know why I am

still alive. I will be seventy-one on August the 18th,2010 .

One reason that I have let an extra week pass without making a post is

that I have been busy this week with an AA convention in Covington,La..

The next reason is I got sick. I either got a stomach virus or I  ate

something that got stuck in my system that would not allow any food or

even water to stay down. Just moments after I swallowed it….It would

come back up…just as it went down,not sower or anything. After 30 hours 

of no fluids I began to dehydrate and get weak so I checked in at our local

hospital emergency room.Quickly, as I came in, they gave me a drip,took

my blood and gave me a special cocktail of drugs that would soothe my

stomach. The next day was Memorial Day and I became much better and I

do have a follow up doctors appoinment this morning.

Re-learning an old lesson from this experience.

While waiting to be released I struck up a conversation with a lady in the

other section of the little room. She was  a fairly young woman who has had

MS for six years. Although she had lost the use of  her legs and  all bladder

control she  remained positive and grateful. The doctor said she had

serious bed sores  and an urinary infecion. I could not see her because she

was behind a drawn curtain. Before I was released her 21 year old daughter 

came in and talked down to her and told her that her 26 yearold daughter

had refused to come. Her ex-husband shows up and announces that an

ambulance was here to pick her up but he did not have time for all this

crap.He said he has his own life to live.

I cried when I had no shoes…then one day I met someone with

no feet.

You see , my wife  can’t drive anymore… A friend came by and offered to

drive me home. My son called and ask if I needed help but my step-daughter

who had been at the convention all week end to take care of her Mother

had just driven 40 miles home to New Orleans (without a blink ) turned

around and came to drive me home.Thanks ,Janell, You are very special

and I am very lucky person.Lots of Love. …You see it pays to live

right 24 hours each day…I can surely count my Blessings. John

What on earth can be solved in  24 hours?

“ If I don’t take a drink today then is is a sure thing that I won’t

need one one tomorrow.”

Sounds to Simple

” When I had a serious dranking  problem just over 37 years

ago, someone  told me that it is O K to plan to party and  to

have all the dranks I want tomorrow. I just could not have

them today.”

To me that did not make any sense.

The Big Question….Can I not drink any alcohol for

24 hours…just one day.

My answer was … Yes, I have done  that many times. My problem

is that when I start I don’t know when to stop.

It is like turning on a light switch.

The Great Solution is….Focus on just on day. Always keep

today in the forefront.Remember…If I don’t drink  that first drank

today I know for sure  Iwill not need one tomorrow.

When do I start my 24 hours ?

You can start any time you wish? Let’s say at 2:15 PM this

afternoon you recieve some bad news. Someone you were

close to just died or perhaps you were just involved in a car

accident.

I simply start my 24 hours at that time. I take a

moment to say a simple prayer…God, thank you

for the past 24 hours of good sobriety. Grant me

another 24 hours of good sobriety.

Just keep It Simple…

I seem to be rambling on a bit.Until Next Time. John

Have   another 24 hours of good sobriety.

Stay positive because it always pays.

Our life is like a theater.

Shakespeare said “all the world is just a stage

and all the men and women in it are merely players.

He forgot to mention that I was a chief critic. Somehow

I had become very negative toward everything.

Some of the players are positive and some of the

players are negative. Naturally you can choose to

be either. Please take a seat on the front row and

observe carefully. Take  your time and choose people

who are positive to be friends with so you can build

positive relationships. Believe me this matters.

Positive friends and family members always lift

you up while negative friends and family members

always drag you down.Sure, it is always hard to let

go. You don’t have to abandon them…just don’t let

them influnce you with there negative ways. 

We are all trying to grow    PHYSICALLY…

MENTALLY… AND… SPRITUALLY  So be aware

of the players and use each 24 hours to improve.

You don’t have to do it forever just each 24 hours

as the come along .You are not alone. Everyone of

us gets caught up in Negative thinking at some point

or other.   Stay aware and try to be positive…

Remember Being positive pays big dividens.

Until Next Time…John

Footnote…Taking any mind alturering drug or

drinking alcohol lead us to negative thinking

I may have posted on this before but it is back by popular demand.

Actually I am going to give you the short version…most widely used.

Then I will give you the longer version … the one most people don’t

know about. Then I will give a brief history of this famous prayer. I

will do some research and next week  a more history about it.

God grant me the  SERENITY to accept the things I

cannot change;

COURAGE to change the things I can; and

WISDOM to know the difference.

This is the short version used  around the world by Religions  Alcoholics

Anonymous and many other twelve step programs. It is very short and to

the point. Now for the Long Version…

God gront me the SERENITY to accept the things;

I cannot change

COURAGE to change the things I can and

Wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as a pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did,this sinful world as it is,

not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right if I

surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in his life and

supremely happy with Him forever in the next… Amen

I hope you enjoyed this post  and may have learned a little 

about  the history…which dates back to the 1500′s.

This was copyright by St. Neinrad Archabby,,,,1960 and by

Rheinhold Neighbar of the Luthern Church in 1928

More history next post…Until Next Time John

The Final Analysis is just a version of the Paradoxical Commandments

written by Kent M. Keith and used by Mother  Teresa while serving in

Calcutta ,India. She used these  as a guide for proper living.

One.People are often unreasonable illogical and self centered;

Forgive them anyway.

Two If you are kind,people will accuse you of selfish,ulterior motives;

Be kind any way.

Three If you are successful. you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

Four If you are honest and frank , people will cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

Five What you spend years building, someone may desroy overnight;

Build  anyway.

Six If you find serenity and happiness ,some may be jealous;

Be serene and happy anyway;

Seven The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Eight Give the world the best you have,and it may never enough;

Give the world the best you have anyway.

The Final Analysis…It is between you and God and

is never between you and them anyway..

This  article was also reprinted from a book written by…

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer….There’s a Spiritusl Solution to Every Problem

Have a wonderful 24 hours   Until Next Time….John  Thanks

There are five things that we all need to do on a consistant schedule.

They are to be aware of putting them in a balanced order so that we can

enjoy each 24 hours we live. Just a little bit of each daily.

One…Physical—Good Health, eat a good diet, get excerise and plenty sleep

Two…Mental—-Forgetfullness  and mental blocks caused be false beliefs,and depression

Three…Spiritual—This is not orginized religion,it is doing good things each day and  living clean and sober.” He who thinks right is spiritual”

Four… Finanicial— Very important to become self- efficent.No Job means no money. Creates  low self esteem and all sorts of emotions.

Five…Emotional— This covers our feelings,anger,fears,resentments of all kinds,prejudices, and our mental  thoughts  that can control the things we do,even without thinking about it.

Above are five areas of our live we need to balance in order to live a good well balnced life.Awareness and just a little bit each day will be enough.

One who lives a balanced life has a better chance of success  by living each day …Happy… Joyous… and Free of bad Emotions.

I sincerily hope this article helps someone out there. Until

Next Time…Have a wonderful 4424 hours. You deserve it. John