A Virus In The Challenge?

“With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable”

Thomas Foxwell Buxton

OUTSTANDING TASKS FROM MY LAST POST:

Day 8  

Set up Twitter alert

The Twitter alert still is not working but a few of the bloggers in the challenge are having the same problem.  Steve Eason from Ingenious Internet Income posted about Twitter – so I asked him if he could write an article about setting this up.

Day 9

Write an opinion post

This has been done – my opinion on a post written by another blogger. Achoo!

Day 12

Check the mobility on a cell phone

I checked this on my Blackberry and no problems. 

Day 13

Check the profile links again

I had link problems to my profile but since then I removed it and have replaced it with my Ezine Article profile.  I ran brokenlinkchecker again and it came up with the same results as my last article (achoo) - I presume it is picking this up from the article itself – so I am quite happy.

CONTINUING ………..

Day 14

Put a reader in the spotlight

I sent Retha Groenewald a bunch of questions to answer about her blog and her new book she has written as we are the only two bloggers in the challenge from South Africa –it was great fun and I would like to do it again sometime.   Achoo!

Day 15

Write a link post

I included links for the first time in my post on Day 14 – so easy – why did I not know how to do this before – I guess that is what the challenge is about!

Day 16

Develop a plan to boost your blog’s profile and readership online

I started work this week so I have to be careful with where I spend my time in building up my readership.  These are the points I have noted:

Most of my readers, besides the blog challenge, are in forums and on addiction sites which I have been a member of long before the challenge but do not spend enough time on these getting involved and leaving my blog’s url as a link.

To keep my readers interested in my blog, I have to write more regular posts on my topics.  This will change after the challenge and if I sign up for the Ultimate Blog Challenge in October.

It must pick out the blogs that suit my theme and stick to following them only.

Day 17

Promote a blog post

I had been a member of Ezine Articles before I started my blog.  So I have submitted a couple of newer posts for review and will continue to do so if they meet the requirements of the Ezine Articles regulations – basically keyword optimised and very little external content.

I also promoted two posts of other bloggers in the challenge with my article on “September is recovery month”, highlighting Wold Suicide Day and 9/11.  Achoo!

Day 18

Analyze a top blog in your niche

I do not know of any personal blogs in my niche so I analysed an article from a blogger on the addictions website “The Fix”.  Achoo!

Day 19

Ask a question

I covered this with my blog post for Day 14 – interviewing a blogger!

Day 20

Take a trip to the mall and improve your blog

Although the country is in an economic mess, people still have money – but the majority of the people are buying necessities such as groceries.  Most of them go for the specials advertised to save money.  There are still others that buy clothes and electronics and payment with a credit card seems to be the norm in these shops.  The parking lot is made up of all ranges of vehicles but most of them occupying the cheaper outside parking rather than the undercover.

One thing I did notice in our mall is there is a map of where all the shops are, divided up into the types of shops.  So I decided to put up labels on my blog and tag the posts accordingly – this gives the reader an idea of what they would like to read about.

Day 21

Solve a reader’s problem

Most of the problems the bloggers ask about has to do with technical difficulties – including me!   I did suggest a poem for Alan Miles for his picture and I did try and give some advice to Keith Addison who was having a difficult time – these were all done in the comments sections of their posts.  Otherwise I try to read most of the posts on a daily basis and will make suggestions where I can.

Day 22

Say “Hey” to a blog reader / Email a blog reader

I have noticed that not many people are posting at the moment but where I can, I leave a comment on their post if I feel I am qualified enough to do so in their niche.  Otherwise I do communicate often on the Facebook page with other bloggers and try to encourage them.  I so this on the other Facebook page, The Ultimate Blog Challenge, too as they are still my readers – I hope!

Retha Groenewald also asked me to answer some questions for a guest post – so that was great fun and I thank her very much.

Day 23 

Leave comments on other blogs

This has been covered in Day 22.  I read a blog post that I did not agree with, no names mentioned, and I did write my opinion post in Day 9 in response to this. The blogger in question left a long comment on my post – clearly she was not ready to take any suggestions!  Achoo!

Day 27

Create a sneeze page for your blog

Well this is it hahaha!  I have been sneezing all over the place – great idea too!

OUTSTANDING TASKS:

Day 24 – Advice columnist for a day

Day 25 – That’s not our policy

Day 26 – Look over their shoulder

A wee bit behind!

And one more week to go!

“Never, never, never give up!”

Winston Churchill

Why Do I Blog?

When you create peace within your own being,

it radiates out into the world...

The world becomes a more peaceful place one person at a time.

One blog post at a time can help!

I was truly humbled to be asked by Retha Groenewald to answer questions for a blog post on her website, Discover Bible Treasures.

I thought I would turn my answers into a post for my blog as it contains the reasons why I started the blog and what my intentions are.

First I would like to highlight an interesting post on the website The Fix, a great place to find blog posts, many resources and the latest news in the addiction world:

From Recovering to Recovered by Nic Sheff

“But now that I understand—on a deep, soul level—just how real this disease is for me, the idea that I’d somehow forget that is hard for me to imagine. Really, the only way I could even conceive of a time when I’d use drugs again is maybe if I lost everything and I used as an alternative to suicide. But if that were the case, I can’t see how an AA meeting would make any kind of difference”.

Firstly, I see no problem writing books about addiction as this columnist says he does.  It is difficult to go back to a past that you have forgiven yourself for and put behind you – but if you need to do it to pass on a message of hope to others – I will do it.  I would perhaps write my book under my maiden name so as not to interfere with my professional work as an accountant – should that career continue in the future.  

Secondly, he does not believe that Alcoholics Anonymous works for most alcoholics and addicts, perhaps because he is agnostic.  I agree with him about not having to go to meetings for the rest of our lives – meetings certainly do not keep you sober - but the program works for me.  But hey, after 5 years of being clean and sober, he appears to be doing just fine!

Anyway, Q & A time with Retha, here we go …………………………..

So tell me about your blog, the reason behind it, what you hope to accomplish with it – in other words the purpose of your blog?

I started doing blog posts twice a month for ITR Addictions magazine as a contributor but it seemed to fizzle out and the last post was mine – I could not get hold of the editor either – such a pity.  So when I heard of the Ultimate Blog Challenge in July through another Facebook group, I decided to transfer my posts onto my own blog and do the challenge.

The original reason behind the blog, was to keep an account of my posts and perhaps use the information in a book in the future.  From there I ended up doing this challenge which is more technical in nature and it has been most rewarding.  The problem is I haven’t found the time to continue doing regular posts which I will do when the challenge is over.

I have realised that if you have a message to give others, a blog is good way to share it – if you get readers of course!  So with this challenge I hope to do just that.  Reading other bloggers’ posts has made me realise there is so much more to recovery than the addiction part.  I would like to introduce some transformation strategies and natural health boosters as well as book reviews and interesting forum subjects – all part of the recovery theme of course. 

The purpose, now, of my blog is to reach out to others who are suffering or just not coping – as my elevator pitch says.  There is a big movement going on in the world at this time for change, both spiritually and worldly, and I would like to be a part of that.  This is a very important time for us all to get involved pro-actively.  There has to be an end to war, economic instability, hunger and poverty for us to continue surviving on planet earth and we can all do our own small part in making those changes. 

Is there something you want your readers to know about you?

Yes that is part of my life’s purpose now.  I am a recovering alcoholic and I am proud of that.  I want other alcoholics to know that if I can do it – they can do it.   That goes for addicts, food bingers, anorexics and basically anyone who has addiction tendencies.  I also want the depressed and the mental health sufferers to know there is hope as well.  The only way I recovered was through the 12 step program which is a design for living.  Doctors and psychiatrists could not help me - in fact I could and cannot even help myself – I believe it was divine intervention that saved my life.  I live my life one day at a time – I have to forgive myself and my past to move forward and I cannot take the future into account.  As it is said in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous:

“What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition”.

I also want the “normal” people to understand substance abuse – people need to get educated and stop pointing fingers at the sick.  I have learned to ignore the nasty attitudes of certain people and rather pray and forgive them – they are just ignorant and do not understand.  Watch out if you are guilty (chuckle) – this is what Steve Jobs had to say and I believe it to be the truth:

“Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

You are writing a book, or have you written it already?

I have always dreamed of writing a book.  I want to write a book one day – a proper book which I can hold in my hands and leave as a legacy to my children.  It will be about my journey through addiction and recovery of course.  It is going to take a while – I have many more blog posts to write first!  

In the meantime, I would like to write a couple of ebooks to sell or give away on my blog.  I signed up for Ronda del Bocca’s “Awakened Author Challenge”, hoping to do a quick ebook in 31 days.  Well with life’s little mishaps, that never materialised.  I will miss the deadline but I do intend to write it.   It will be called “A Recipe for Recovery” and will incorporate the principles of the 12 step program as the ingredients – it should be fun. 

If not published yet, when can we as readers expect it to be on the market?

I have no idea when it will be ready – not today and I cannot predict the future, remember?  Oh gosh the joys of being in recovery hahaha!

What are your dreams, where is your journey leading you to?

I want to read and write – blog posts, forum posts, ebooks and eventually my story.  I want to get my message out there to the people who care to read it.  Unfortunately we cannot live on air and water and I am completely broke at this stage.  My son has employed me on a commission only basis doing sales for him and I have a couple of clients I still do financial work for but it is not enough.  I have so many dreams but then reality hits home that I am just a square peg in a round hole and am only one arms’ length away from taking a drink and drowning myself altogether.  I have to be so careful with just normal online activities - which is why you will not find any recovery on my personal Facebook page – people do not employ drunks!  I am also over the age of 50, a white divorced woman living in a rainbow nation called South Africa, and there just are not enough jobs out there with the unemployment so high.  So I take what I can get – the clients who do not pay their taxes or me and cold calling for my son! 

Fortunately I believe in hope.  Everyone deserves a second chance in their lives and I hope mine is going to be what I love the most – helping others and becoming a successful writer!  But for now and forever it is one day at a time – learning to accept myself, forgive myself and remembering that love and tolerance for others is my code.

"Few people realize that sobriety is an action of insights and skills

far beyond mere abstinence.

Sobriety is a creative discipline in the art of freedom of growth and of love”.

Dr. David Stewart

Support Global Oneness Day 2012

“The world is in the condition that it’s in

because the world is full of sleepwalkers”

Neale Donald Walsch

 

I received an email from the wonderful Neale Donald Walsch, author of Conversations with God and many other spiritual books, which I would like to share with you as I cannot forward it to everyone:

My Dear Sara,

I have been thinking very deeply about a special day that is coming up soon. On October 24, 2012, we will be celebrating our 3rd Annual Global Oneness Day. Three years and already so many people have joined in, but I continue to wonder how many more people can we get to join us?

I think that what is happening on the earth right now is that we are being inundated with data. The blessing and the miracle of today's technologies has also been in some ways a burden, in that we are constantly being confronted with incoming data. Our attention, therefore, has been directed in a thousand places, almost simultaneously.

In these days the world follows us where we go, not just in terms of telephone calls, but also text messages and all sorts of incoming data. In that kind of environment it is very easy to lose sight of what we have already determined should be important to us, such as the fact of our unity, of our oneness. So setting aside one day each year to just say, "Can we just stop everything for 24 hours and not only remind ourselves of our oneness, but actually enter into a demonstration of it?", feels like a very good idea.

Wouldn't it be nice if one day a year we highlighted and engaged in certain kinds of small mini-projects, gestures, opportunities or programs in order to put the idea of Oneness on the ground in cities, towns and villages around the world?

We can have demonstrations of Oneness be a key to making Global Oneness Day an extraordinary observation every year. It is important that we do those kinds of things, especially when we are so distracted by all that is happening around us, so that one day we can say: "Oh yes, that's right, it is true, we are all one. And here is my demonstration of that; here is what I chose to do on that particular day to notice it, to express it, to demonstrate it, to remind myself and others and, in fact, to become it in a living sense."

What do you think? Can you put Global Oneness Day on your calendar? October 24, 2012.

To help you get ideas for how you can participate, please visit the official website, Global Oneness Day 2012, and you will see the many many opportunities there, big and small, to play a role in something too important to miss.

My heart thanks you.

Love and hugs...

NDW

           

“Humanity’s Team declared 24 October 2010 as the first Global Oneness Day – a day intended to inspire awareness, appreciation and celebration of life’s underlying Oneness, that we believe all of life is connected, in the same way that Earth Day is intended to inspire awareness, appreciation and celebration of the earth’s natural environment. And like Earth Day, Global Oneness Day invites people to bring Oneness into their lives in practical ways, not just conceptually.

Practical demonstrations of Oneness will give people tangible, experiential proof that living in Oneness works. This will, in turn, encourage us all to expand our hopes, beliefs and behaviours so that, a generation from now, humanity will finally realize a dream it has had since time immemorial of a world living in peace, harmony and happiness”.

Please go to the website and sign the Oneness Day Declaration and get involved.  There are amazing people who will be speaking and supporting the movement including:

Archbishop Desmond Tutu - South African activist and Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid.

Ken Wilber - Founder of the Integral Institute: author of such subject matter as mysticism, philosophy, ecology, and developmental psychology.

Gregg Braden - New York Times best-selling author is internationally renowned as a pioneer in bridging science, spirituality, and the real world.

Jack Canfield - Motivational speaker and author. He is best known as the co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series.

Bruce Lipton PhD - Internationally recognized author and leader in bridging science and spirit.

Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith - New Thought minister, author, and founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City, California.

You can also go to the website of Humanity’s Team and the links on this page will take you to the Web sites of some key organizations and resources they have identified as active partners. These great authors are included:

Deepak Chopra

Wayne Dyer

Byron Katie

Dalai Lama

Marianne Williamson

Jerry and Esther Hicks  

So if you want to be a part of change for peace in the world, this is an opportunity to get involved.  Do not miss out!

“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right”.

Napoleon Hill

September Is National Recovery Month

“Even when we know what is right, too often we fail to act.

More often we grab greedily for the day,

letting tomorrow bring what it will,

putting off the unpleasant and the unpopular”

Bernard M. Baruch

If it wasn’t for the challenge and Google Reader, I would never have known – September is National Drug and Alcohol Recovery Month and National Mental Health Recovery Month in the USA.  I feel it should be a worldwide event but if you live in another country, you can make people aware of it.

From The Detroit News:

Recovery month is a national observance for educating Americans about addiction treatment and mental health services and how these can enable those with mental health and/or substance abuse disorders to live healthy and rewarding lives.   We need to rally together to stop the stigma that follows these diseases and assure people with these problems that they can receive treatment and support needed for recovery and lead their lives with dignity.

Mental illness and substance abuse are equal opportunity diseases impacting people across the racial, ethnic and socio-economic divides. When it hits home, it hurts.  We can all do our part to help family members, friends, colleagues, neighbors and fellow citizens lead full and productive lives— now is as good a time as any to start.  Don't wait for a serious mental illness or substance abuse problem to impact you or someone you love— get involved today and offer to help.  Recovery is at hand when we all do our part.

From The Dispatch:

Drug and alcohol addiction is something that is usually associated with darkness, pain and tragedy. But an upcoming fundraiser in Starkville hopes to, not only diminish some of the social stigmas surrounding addiction, but to do so in a fun-filled, family-friendly environment.  Another aspect is to help change some of the attitudes synonymous with addicts and addiction.

"I hope this will de-mystify addiction in some way," Valentine said. "People have a fear of addiction and they don't understand the addicts. They treat it differently than they do other medical conditions. People who have recovered from addiction are some of the strongest people in the world. I just want to put the word out that there is hope. Addicts aren't bad people, but people that need some behaviors to be changed."

From redOrbit:

National Recovery Month promotes the prevention, treatment and recovery for mental health and substance use disorders. Beginning on September 6, 2012, National Recovery Month celebrates both recovering addicts and the contributions of their treatment providers. According to a study from the Partnership at Drugfree.org and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, nearly 23 million American adults report that they’ve overcome a problem with drugs or alcohol.

According to Dr. Harris Stratyner, Vice President of Caron Treatment Centers and Clinical Director of the New York Region, “For many addicted individuals, recovery represents a life that they never believed they could have – a life that is free of the fear and isolation that they experienced when they were using. Suffering doesn’t have to be a life sentence – recovery is possible and attainable, and treatment is available for those who choose to seek it.”

Other important events in recovery:

Yesterday, September 10^th was also World Suicide Prevention Day.  Our fellow blogger Riki Cleveland wrote a beautiful and inspiring post which I hope you will all take time out to read on her blog “Refreshingly Riki”.

"September 10^th marks the tenth anniversary of World Suicide Prevention Day, celebrating 10 years of research and advancement in the prevention of suicide. On this day I encourage you to do two things. First, take a moment to recognize where you might need some extra care in your own life. We cannot be of any help to others if we are not taking care of ourselves. Be kinder to yourself today and allow yourself to feel feelings that you might otherwise try to repress or ignore. Take some time to bring cheer, self-love, and optimism into your own space. Second, take the extra step to reach out to both friends and strangers in your community who might be struggling. Even the smallest smile or helping hand might be the gesture it takes to turn around the thoughts of someone fraught in life and contemplating suicide".

And today marks the anniversary of 9/11 exactly 11 years ago.  Today, we remember all the victims, families, firemen, the men and women of the emergency services and anyone whose life was affected by this tragedy.  Take time out of your day to pray for the bereaved and let us hope that we can use this event to realize the importance of peace and change in the world – starting now before it is too late.

A fellow blogger Kellee Conrad wrote an honest post on how she felt last year of the impact of the twin tower disaster in her blog “My Llife With Monkeys.”  I am not a US citizen but her words in “A citizen’s speech” express the importance of making change:

“Patriotism comes from inside. It rests on your shoulders; you carry the burden on your back to make this change. It is what we choose as citizens to do differently today that will determine if we can stand united tomorrow. Will you put racism and judgment aside? Will you get off your soapbox of righteousness and be humbled? Will you reach out to your neighbor and help raise the barn? Will you put the anger aside long enough to make your voice of encouragement heard? Will you stop believing the hype and trust in your heart? Will you love your country? Do not ignore the opportunity. When we all make the step together, it is louder than any bomb. And only then when we begin to care enough and find compassion again will we turn this story around, honor to the sacrifices made on that fateful day and give it the grande finale it deserves”.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world”

Mahatma Gandhi

Interview With A Fellow Blogger - Who Is It?

“Not the maker of plans and promises,

but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters.

This is the person who is likely to achieve what is good and lasting.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I chose to interview Retha Groenewald, not only because she is one of my blogging buddies, but she shows determination throughout the challenge by never failing to ask questions and asking for help. 

Although Retha is not in the same niche that I am in, although I am a very spiritual person, she believes strongly in her topics and in her own way is also trying to make the world a better place.

Let us see what she had to say …………….

1.         Your first comment on my blog was on the elevator pitch and you said you enjoyed the words “Recovery is all about change”.  Can you explain why?

Those 5 words are so profound. You can write a book on those words. Recovery to me means that a person has been in a situation (physical, emotional, spiritual), that needs to change. Most of the times we recover from something bad. Something that will kill, steal, destroy us or someone that is precious to us. To get out of that situation we need to make a choice, which begins the domino effect of change. It reminds me of when we repent, it is a change of direction, and we move in the opposite direction.

I said I enjoyed those words because they bring hope. One tiny change like going left instead of right,  a thought or decision can bring total recovery and restoration.

2.         We are the only two bloggers in the challenge that come from South Africa. 

Yes, awesome and both from the sea            

(a)        Have you always lived here?

Yes, except when I was 10 we lived in USA for a year. That was wonderful.

(b)       What do you love about our country?

Everything, we are truly a rainbow country, we have different seasons, nature differs from area to area, different cultures, we have everything. I live in Cape Town where you can have all four seasons in one day. I really don’t know how to answer this except to say I think our country is the most beautiful country in the world. I love SA.

(c)        What don’t you like about it?

Nothing.

 3.         You have two blogs in the challenge – can you tell us:

(a)        Where we can find your blogs?

Discover Bible Treasures and

Bible Fascination

(b)       Why did you decided to blog on the relevant subjects?

I am passionate about the Word of God. I decided to go with multiple blogs, each with its own niche, instead of one blog with different niches. My reason is that although the target market could be the same in both sites, the niches do differ. Discover Bible Treasures is a site where the heroes and heroines go on Biblical journeys, with quizzes and puzzles for them to solve. Bible Fascination is a site where we do Bible study to get to know the Bible better and to apply it in our lives. Both sites are about getting to know the Bible better but in different ways. Discover Bible Treasures is for the child in you that likes games and puzzles and adventure. Bible Fascination is a more serious approach. Here you find Bible Study / Devotional, for example, of the Gospels in chronological order.

The purpose of both sites are to awaken the love for the Word of God and having a closer relationship with God.

(c)        What was the most difficult assignment in the challenge so far and why?

Leaving my computer to go on a field trip, no just kidding. Finding a forum to take part in is the most difficult. There are many forums out there, but because I am new to the blogging world (started blogging in June this year), and I am not sure what my niche is exactly (whether it is Bible Study, devotional, Christian living, personal growth quiz, puzzle, etc), I am not sure where to look. (Thought of starting a forum on my DBT blog, but not sure how)

4.           What do you think are the differences between Religion and Spirituality?

Wow, difficult question. I believe Jesus hated religion, because the religious spirit defined holiness with works whereas we know without our Saviour we are nothing and we cannot be saved with our works or how good we are. Jesus is the only way that we can be saved. Therefore I believe in a personal relationship with my Lord and Saviour. (sounds like I am preaching).         

5.           You have just written an ebook.  Can you tell us more about it?

(a)        What inspired you to write a book?

I believe it is part of my calling and the road God has set me upon.

(b)       What is it about?

The eBook is called “Teach the Word” and it is about teaching the Word of God. It is short and to the point, a guideline.  The eBook tells us about some of the teachers in the Old Testament, Jesus the Teacher and the Holy Spirit that teaches us. The teaching methods Jesus used are also mentioned. It also touches on the responsibilities of the learner.

(c)        Where can we download a copy?

You can download it from Amazon or Smashwords.   

The book is a Kindle Edition, but you can download it even if you do not have a Kindle. There is a free Kindle reader you can download from the Kindle site for all gadgets.

(d)       What difficulties did you encounter with the writing or publishing process?

The whole process was new to me,  and some of the things I am still wondering about. My greatest difficulty was the formatting for Kindle and getting the images right (due to lack of knowledge). Oh yes and the cover. But the easy part is when you have overcome these difficulties and press publish.

(e)        What advice can you give to others who are thinking of writing an ebook?

Write it, if you are thinking about it, you have a message that the readers want to hear.

6.         Do you see blogging and/or writing as a future career?

Absolutely, blogging was the door that opened the first step on this new adventure.

So show some support by visiting Retha’s website and checking out her ebook – you never know how much you may learn.  Thank you Retha for answering my questions and keep on writing. Here is one of my favourite prayers to share with you, our 11^th Step prayer in AA:

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me a channel of thy peace - that where there is hatred, I may bring love - that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness - that where there is discord, I may bring harmony - that where there is error, I may bring truth - that where there is doubt, I may bring faith - that where there is despair, I may bring hope - that where there are shadows, I may bring light - that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in the giving that we receive; it is in the pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Criticism - positive or negative?

Run your fingers through my soul.

For once, just once, feel exactly what I feel,

believe what I believe, perceive as I perceive,

look, experience, examine, and for once;

just once, understand.

Those words may seem controversial to you.  We all have our own problems so why should we take the time to care about others?  That is all and well but is negative criticism of others necessary if you haven’t taken the time to understand?  I have learned that before I can judge another, I need to walk a mile in their shoes.

I read a blog post the other day where the writer was slandering a woman, who has an alcohol problem, for drinking and driving with teenagers in the car.  It started me thinking on how many times I had to take my own children to functions or school and the only way I could get out of the house and do this was to have a drink to calm the tremors.  I was fortunate, by the Grace of God, that nothing terrible happened and I never got a dui either.  When I look back on those terrifying years, it was the only way I could cope with a disease that had consumed my mind, body and soul. 

Yes, alcoholism has been medically classified as a disease.  Like Aids, people tend to shy away from alcoholics and deem them to be the dregs of the earth, the unsavoury.  When we take the example of drinking and driving – I agree that it is totally irresponsible – but there are normal people that drink too much at a party and get behind the wheel of a car.  What about those who are driving while texting on their cell phones or the mental health sufferers who are under the influence of large doses of Valium or other heavy drugs? 

An alcoholic has to choose recovery on their own desperate terms.  In the long term, forceful rehabilitation actions will not help them but there are a couple of things you can do to make yourself a little less resentful: 

1.  Drinking and driving – tell your children and their friends not to get into any car where you suspect the person has been drinking - drive them yourself.

2.  Resentments – show a little more tolerance for the person involved by encouraging them not to drive with others or at all when under the influence.

3.  Presence – it is your responsibility, if you care enough, to take the car keys away from someone under the influence – friends do not let friends drink and drive.

4.  Concern – if you are sincerely worried about whether a person is an alcoholic, tell them your concerns and let their friends and family know.

5.  Educate – read and learn about alcoholism – you might change your perspective.

6.  Practice what you preach – don’t drink under the influence of any mind altering substances either.

7.  Judge not, less you be judged. 

You know the saying – when a dog is down, kick it.  Well I have known how it feels to be there.  Alcoholics are generally beautiful people with emotional defects that have risen out of their pasts.  Don’t pick on the hopeless.  This world is in a mess with war, economic instability, hunger and poverty which has all been influenced by the greatest addictions of all:  Power, Greed and Corruption. 

I am sure you all have some thoughts of your own on this subject, so please voice your opinions.  We need to strive to make the world a better place for all.

“To love means loving the unlovable.

To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable.

Faith means believing the unbelievable.

Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.”

G. K. Chesterton