1 Year Birthday           I’d like to preface my story with a disclaimer that the beginning of my recovery is a parallel with two 12­step programs ­ AA and CoDA. I’ll go between the two, referencing one and then the other, because both were crucial to my realization that I had the disease of codependency, as well as the symptoms (alcoholism and drug addiction) that manifested as a result of trying to self­medicate and treat that disease. One year and one week a ...Continue Reading

                         Why do service work?                 How can service work advance my recovery? People get involved in service work for many different reasons. Some do it because they want to control what is going on in their sphere within CoDA. Others do it because they think that they are the only one who knows what i ...Continue Reading

              Reward Of Recovery - 3 years later                            September 28, 2001 I've just celebrated 4 years in recovery. As I look back and read my initial one year anniversary letter, I see now that I had simply uncovered the tip of the iceberg. I'd established a foundation. What followed has been truly miracul ...Continue Reading

      Enough My blessings overwhelm me Why am I afraid of stepping out further onto the fruitful branch? Am I not content with what I have? Is it not enough? When I was small I was never enough I never had enough or was good enough Those dissatisfactions came from outside disapprovals Now I am big and I surely have enough It’s time to step out far onto the limb to change, metamorphose the words... For now, the “not enough” is not about my dissatisfactions It’s about natural evolution of growth ...Continue Reading

Amends I have heard people in the program complain about others owing them amends. When the other person admitted their wrong doing and vowed to change the amends were not accepted because they didn’t say they were sorry. Is saying, "I’m sorry" an amends? Or is there a lot more to it. Webster’s definition for Amend (on the internet); 1: To put right 2a: to change or modify for the better 2b: to alter, to reform oneself Synonym – correct My first sponsor told me it was not important whether the person I was ...Continue Reading

                                   Good Things I read the affirmation today, "I deserve the good things that happen in my life" and it took me by surprise. As a codependent from an alcoholic background my focus and energy was always directed toward preventing major catastrophes from happening to others and myself. It seemed as though the good ...Continue Reading

       The Daily Eleventh Step When I first began in recovery, over eight years ago, I read in a daily meditation book about a woman who used the eleventh step as a guide to the other steps. As I was an experienced meditator I latched on to this concept. Meditation was a familiar tool, and I have used it daily to increase my understanding of all 12 of the steps. When I meditate, I breathe in harmony with the slogan "Let Go, Let God". I breathe out while holding in my mind the tho ...Continue Reading

Do you enjoy the weekly recovery readings? Do you like carrying the message of recovery? Would you like to be a part of the Co-NNections committee? If you answered yes to the above questions, WE WANT YOU!!! The Co-NNections committee is currently looking for new members. Skills that would be helpful could include: Excitement & joy about codependency recovery Knowledge of the Traditions Strong writing and editing skills Available for occasional teleconferences Email & computer skills Our major focus is o ...Continue Reading

I Am Healthy By Kay K. It is amazing to be able to say that! I will say it again, I am a whole, happy, healthy, loving woman. I was sick for the first 40 years of my life. Like millions of other human beings I grew up immersed in the family disease of alcoholism. For generations it has plagued my family. The unbalanced life I led is so common in our society; I didn?t know anything was wrong. I was a participant in the chaos, confusion, neuroses, pain and suffering, which is present in dysfunctional families. I call it ...Continue Reading

Recovery      I look at the young child So free and so wild. She seems so unsure Like there is something more... She lives through the days Looking for ways To make it okay Through night and through day. Her home’s a disguise she sees through her eyes. Something’s not right, So she put up a fight. Her soul is pure her heart is gold, She wants a hug, a hand to hold. It’s just not there She wonders why... So many times she starts to cry. “It’s not your fault!” I try to say To make ...Continue Reading

We have discovered since we started sending you the readings in the actual email that smaller service providers using enterprise spam filters such as Barracuda & Spam Assassin are frequently marking our readings as spam & not delivering them. Unfortunately it's takes very little to labeled as spam (our last 2 sendings had huge problems with that), & it is very inconsistent what will cause one of the thousands of filters used to do so. We ask that you add co-nnectionreadings@codependents.org to your contact ...Continue Reading

                                 Death and Recovery Last year a former member of my CoDA meeting, Toni, committed suicide. She attended the meeting for about two years and moved to another city. Toni maintained a strong friendship with another member here, Lesley. One Monday, Toni didn't show up for work. Lesley expressed concern and fear as she processed what sh ...Continue Reading

                      Helpful Affirmations                   I am accepting of others and myself.   I am confident!   I am flexible, friendly, and fulfilled.   I am self-affirming.   I experience joy.   I am a spirited and spiritual person.   I feel blessed to have many opportunities in my life.   Today, I ch ...Continue Reading

               The Daily Eleventh Step When I first began in recovery, over eight years ago, I read in a daily meditation book about a woman who used the eleventh step as a guide to the other steps. As I was an experienced meditator I latched on to this concept. Meditation was a familiar tool, and I have used it daily to increase my understanding of all 12 of the steps. When I meditate, I breathe in harmony with the slogan "Let Go, Let God" ...Continue Reading

Amends I have heard people in the program complain about others owing them amends. When the other person admitted their wrong doing and vowed to change the amends were not accepted because they didn't say they were sorry. Is saying, "I'm sorry" an amends ? Or is there a lot more to ii. Webster 's definition for Amend (on the internet);   1: To put right 2a: to change or modify for the better 2b: to alter, to reform oneself Synonym - correct My first sponsor told me it was not important whether the ...Continue Reading

                     Acceptance to Grace There are times in my life when circumstances arise that I want to be different, that I feel are unfair, that test my will and patience. What I am learning and living is that God's grace is always there if I ask for it. When I try to control my emotions, when I try to control circumstances, when I try to change others I make my self sick with worry and lose my connection to all th ...Continue Reading

Boundaries Boundaries are borders We draw to preserve, The distance between What's mine and what's yours They keep pain out and peace within, And are a necessary tool If you desire to win This game of life So complicated it seems, As if heaven could only exist in a dream These boundaries help us create peace on earth And remind us of our Natural rights from birth In recovery we're reminded of this awesome truth, So we own our power with no excuse. Jennifer T. (2009) If you have written an inspirational short pie ...Continue Reading

The contents of this email are from the CoDA Co-Nnections committee, co-nnectionreadings@codependents.org To our valued CoDA Fellowship Weekly Reading Subscribers: Great news: The weekly recovery readings have returned! You will likely be receiving the first one within the next week. At least in the short run, the reading will likely be in the email you receive from this list, rather then just a pointer to the website as you received in the past. Our long term plan is to use both methods; if you have any feedback on ...Continue Reading

The contents of this email are from the CoDA Co-NNections committee, connections@coda.org Dear Weekly Readings Subscribers, I'm happy to know that many of you look forward to the Weekly Readings and saddened that it has been awhile since a different Weekly Reading has been posted. It's been one month since the new Co-NNections website was finished.   The problem that we have is a technical issue with the software used to create this website. "Mura" is the software platform and doesn't have a random pag ...Continue Reading

We've received emails from several CoDA members asking why we have not sent a Weekly Readings Reminder in quite awhile. The answer is that when the CoDA.org website was re-designed Co-NNections was given a new website; though it will appear to you that you are still on the main CoDA site. That site is not ready yet, & it is not currently possible to post new readings; hence we haven't been sending the reminders. Also for the same reason, the links in previous mailings are no longer functional. There is a partia ...Continue Reading

We've received emails from several CoDA members asking why we have not sent a Weekly Readings Reminder in quite awhile. The answer is that when the CoDA.org website was re-designed Co-NNections was given a new website; though it will appear to you that you are still on the main CoDA site. That site is not ready yet, & it is not currently possible to post new readings; hence we haven't been sending the reminders. Also for the same reason, the links in previous mailings are no longer functional. There is a partial ...Continue Reading

(Mailing list information, including how to remove yourself, is located at the end of this message.) We're sending you this email to let you know of a change in our email list software's unsubscription process. You can no longer unsubscribe on the website. The only way to unsubscribe at this time is to click the unsubscribe link in the email you receive. If for any reason that doesn't work; please email codalist@codependents.org or respond to any list email & I can unsubscribe you manually. We apologize for this c ...Continue Reading

(Mailing list information, including how to remove yourself, is located at the end of this message.) For unknown reasons, the unsubscribe links in our bulk email program are broken for some users (including myself). The programmer is on vacation until May 1st. He has been informed of the issue by email. If you wish to unsubscribe before then & are unable to, please email us at this address & I will manually unsubscribe you. Geff R CoDA Email ...Continue Reading

(Mailing list information, including how to remove yourself, is located at the end of this message.) *********************************************************************************** The new Co-NNections weekly reading has been posted. To view it, go to: http://coda.org/week-read.php *********************************************************************************** To forward this email to a friend, please click the link below. https://codependents.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/connections//#forward_to_a_frien ...Continue Reading