El Shaddai Addiction Recovery Centre

10/02/2026

A Spiritual Principle a Day

February 10

Waking Up to Service

Being of loving service is living spiritually. First we take, then we give, then we share.

Living Clean, Chapter 3; “Creative Action of the Spirit”

In Narcotics Anonymous, we arrive to find ourselves the most important person in the room. For a lot of us, that notion is terrifying, but some of us enjoy the rock-star treatment. We grab a white keytag and do a victory lap for thirty days in a row including weekends.
We share in every meeting until the timer goes off (every time), wondering aloud what the hell we are doing here with “all you people . . . no offense.” We dazzle our fellows with our theory of the difference between humility and humiliation. They must like what we have to say, ’cause they tell us, “Keep coming back.” We find a sponsor and bend his ear with a detailed account. “Sponse” picks us up at the recovery house and buys us a meal after the meeting. He doesn’t say much, but he’s definitely listening!As our status as the most important person melts away and our keytag color changes to orange, Sponse suggests we listen more instead of talking so much, take meeting commitments that don’t court attention, and reach out to newcomers. We get a blue six months clean, and we ask our sponsor about doing H&I. “Good idea” is his response. We think he’s pleased about our initiative, even though he says nothing about it. Our bravado shifts. We get some high-fives and tighter hugs from members who acknowledge how well we’re doing. That feels undeniably good, but showing up for other addicts feels even better. Our story continues. We glow in the dark at one year and are black and gold at two. Our commitment to service deepens. We are invited to participate in our recovery, to share our experience, strength, and hope. We start to have this strange new feeling that we can’t quite put our finger on. Over dinner on us this time we try to articulate the feeling to our sponsor: “It’s something about being of value, maybe a little gratitude thrown in . . . ?” We struggle to find the words. "Hmm,” says our sponsor. “Sounds like you might be waking up.”

Today I will ask, “How can I be of loving service?” I will listen to the answer and take action because this is how I want to live.

12/12/2025

"Just For Today"

December 12

Fear of change:

By working the steps, we come to accept a Higher Powers will.... We lose our fear of the unknown. We are set free.

Life is a series of changes, both large and small. Although we may know and accept this fact intellectually, chances are that our initial emotional reaction to change is fear. For some reason, we assume that each and every change is going to hurt, causing us to be miserable.

If we look back on the changes that have happened in our lives, well find that most of them have been for the best. We were probably very frightened at the prospect of life without drugs, yet its the best thing thats ever happened to us. Perhaps weve lost a job that we thought wed die without, but later on we found greater challenge and personal fulfillment in a new career. As we venture forth in our recovery, were likely to experience more changes. We will outgrow old situations and become ready for new ones.

With all sorts of changes taking place, its only natural to grab hold of something, anything familiar and try to hold on. Solace can be found in a Power greater than ourselves. The more we allow changes to happen at the direction of our Higher Power, the more well trust that those changes are for the best. Faith will replace fear, and well know in our hearts that all will be well.

Just for today: When I am afraid of a change in my life, I will take comfort from knowing that Gods will for me is good.

11/12/2025

Recovery is a journey; not a race!!!

Recovery is a process that requires patience and persistence. We didn't get to the stage of addiction overnight and we surely won't recover overnight.

Easy does it. Keep on keeping on.

09/12/2025