My roommate is asleep in my office effectively stopping my working on websites. The day has nothing on the books. This morning first thing I prayed and meditated to know God's will and to follow it and right now, I have nothing to do. I thought it would be good to review my gratitude list. I am kind of restless and I don't know where that comes from.
I am coming up on 35 years sober on the 30th, 3 days from now, and that is amazing. Sobriety has given me gifts, day by day, week by week, month by month and year by year. I have a time trying to appreciate the people who chose to go back to using drugs and alcohol because I see no benefit in it and just an amazing amount of harm. I man I care about uses and then cries when he uses because he gets so depressed. That I do not understand. 35 years ago I determined I wanted no further harm from drugs and alcohol and determined that I would do whatever it takes to not use. I regularly go to many meetings and have a super support system and regularly reach out to those who still suffer with dependency. It is the way of my life. It is really very simple, following God's will day by day. I do not do it perfectly but that does not flag my daily and hourly and minute by minute focus on doing just that.
I also have the great privilege of playing violin every week. That is a kick and I do it most often right now at Kwanzaa Community Church. I also enhance my walk with God at the services there led by Pastors Ralph and Alika Galloway. I am so blessed.
My Gratitude List:
Sobriety - A gift only HP can give when I let him
HP - My HP does Miracles in the here and now, today is a miracle.
the program - my daily reprieve and NOT my own doing, very spiritual on an increasing basis these days.
Christa the Phaeton - my motorized office and companion and definitely me
my home - beautiful, peaceful, stately, quiet.
the beautiful North Shore of Lake Superior
my health - excellent
travel is great, particularly in the Phaeton.
Don - a quiet powerful man and a good friend, and really really funny. Really a gift in my life.
Chris M. - my sponsor and a real inspiring guy.
Victor - he cares and that is wonderful. He is also a great cook. He calls every day.
Millie - a most awesome person, energized.
Damien - Superb actor and a good man and extremely psychic, a lot of blessing in a man. I would love to have him as my son.
Jakub - an awesome man
Steve K - Brother in work and mission and focus
Ross U - what can I say, beautiful, inside and out. Growing and loving
Ronnie B - friend, and a kickass woman, I pray for her health.
Josef O - fascinating man and working a good program
Justin P - Makes me mad but he will make it if he keeps the mouth shut and the mind open and is honest.
Mikey - gifted and insightful, and sometimes a little Puck.
Ronnie T - an awesome man and a gift to know
Joel L - exciting to watch the struggle begin
Dustin - powerful, insightful, insane thinker, and a thoughtful man
Jim - my best friend and a real rock
Larry - a good guy and Jim's significant other and fun and funny.
Duane - a superb man and a wonderful friend. An Iphone addict too!
Beryl Wells - my favorite insane artist and phenomenal woman of the world
Virginia Howard - One awesome woman
Aaron - Gifted, my right hand man when he is around and sometimes by phone.
Harry Waters - Fantastic Director and Drama Coach on the M4D Project
Dewey Lysen - fantastic on the keyboard.
Steven - good friend and nuttier than a fruitcake. I am not sure how he makes it but he does.
Rob - the man who completed Duane's life
Bobby M - gentle, caring, sweet man
Pastor Alika - who breaks open the word like no one else and keeps me working on the connection with Jesus.
the folks at Kwanzaa Presbyterian - my family with prayers and support
my mom and dad - gone but here
Anise Flesh - super woman and grand teacher
Aunt Florence - my trooper friend
Bill - my wonderful brother who goes way beyond in support and care
Noel - my sister in law who understands
Eric - my eldest Nephew, back here from the east coast.
Lucinda - the wonderful wife of my Nephew Eric
Nate - the funny and fun second Nephew
Jessica - Nate's wonderful wife and a grand woman
Nick - The Youngest Nephew and a brilliant musician
Lydia - Eric and Lucinda's little daughter
Evie - Eric and Lucinda's newest little daughter
Minnesota - I love this state
Tara - A great member of Kwanzaa and a super prayer
Arlene - A wonderful woman of Kwanzaa
Gerry - Super woman and a woman of God from Kwanzaa
Tony M - he understands and cares and really is way beyond me in many ways
Christian - Brilliant, good man
Kent - Excellent Musician and slowly learning.
Cassidy - a totally wonderful man, he has been given many gifts
Timmy - Talented and gifted man, sometimes love is tough, prayin for him
Ronnie T - smart, funny, a leader
Patrick O - gifted artist and a real loving man
The Lattin Family, and all the 14 children, owners of Wit's End County Store and Bakery, Beaver Bay, MN - demonstrating the Kingdom to the world
Steve H - big heart and a big man of sobriety
Lois Koyama - a woman of God
Michael and Debbie - Loving the world with Music
Technology - Makes a lot of things happen as a tool
Ben Speiser - Super, sweet and very intelligent
Tom Scholla - been with me for a long time
The Gang of Knitters around the Yarn Garage and StevenBe - creative and challenging
Brandon Randolph - stunning man, my own secret hero
Larry Eckhart - funny fun and devoted man
Bob Moore - gifted artist
Margo - sweet friend
Jo - very intelligent and very caring
Polly - awesome woman
Bill - the Judge with the mostest
Dennis Johnston - gifted therapist
the Fiddle - my drug of choice
Dan Chouinard - fantastic man of music
Sima Shumilovsky - sweet old world musician
Eric - great 12 Step man
The Meintsmas - committed and loving
Earl Lindner - rock of a man
Kevin Jackson - gifted with music
Christopher Raymond - A Mac Genius
Chris J - good program man
Leo - my leader and my conscience
Hank - my first sponsor who is gone now but still lives in my head.
Scott - my second gay sponsor, now also gone but in my thoughts
music - heals me and excites me
Justin - friend and busy guy
Eric - friend
Clem - friend
Christian - friend
Blaine - friend
Sasha - friend
James - friend
Casey - friend
Marc J - friend
Tim K - friend
Dustin - friend
Geo - friend
Joe L - friend
Ross M - friend
Joseph S. - friend
Mario - gifted, loving, caring man
Joseph Perry - friend and my TM teacher
Christof - friend
Michelle - friend
Max - friend
Dontray - friend
Tyler - friend
Zach - friend
Rory - friend
David and Ricky Peterson - the awesome folks of Jessica
