Posts Tagged ‘AA Book’

Book Review – The Mindful Addict: A Memoir of the Awakening of a Spirit by Tom Catton

Posted: July 9, 2011 in Uncategorized
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In 2004, after my mom had passed away and I was detoxing from all opiates, I read the book “A Million Little Pieces” by James Frey. What a colossal piece of shit. What a shame for the publishing industry, that they not only published such garbage, but then, after being called out and discovered to be untruthful, simply slap a few sentences in the beginning of the book, stating something to the effect “A million little pieces is a collection of James Frey’s personal and fictional experiences, blah blah,” instead of having the decency and integrity to take the lying trash they’d already made millions on down, apologize profusely, and walk away with at least an ounce of respect. But they didn’t do that. They continue, to this day to publish this collection of exaggerated, self glorifying, egotistical, atheist view of recovery, in which honesty is not mentioned one time in the entire book, let alone the word humility. I was coming down off a year of opiates, hellish withdrawals, and trying to read that book for hope, and only finding that I couldn’t relate to it at all. Because it was lies. Tom Catton’s book rings true from the very beginning, through out the entire book. Maybe James Frey’s book wouldn’t have bothered me so much, if HONESTY weren’t the VERY FIRST principle of the VERY FIRST step, but it is. Also, I was so blessed to have people in my life who had multiple years of recovery, and the thing that rang true for all those people, as does while reading Tom Catton’s book, is they were ALL very very humble, grateful to be alive, and thus their stories sounded honest to me. Shame on the publishing industry for falling for such easily spotted vanity writing. So it is with a skeptical eye and wary mind that I read any book or memoir on recovery, and this one, I could tell from beginning to end was one of the most humble honest stories of sobriety, life and spirituality in general that I’ve ever read.

For me too, personally, the book held a lot of meaning in synchronicity. His sobriety date was a day or two off my birthday, I haven’t traveled to a ton of places, but the north shore of Oahu is one place I spent about two weeks when I was married, so I recognized a lot of the setting, or I thought I did at least. I was enthralled the entire ride through. Walking in faith, truly LIVING IN THE MOMENT, this book encapsulates the way, my Higher Power, Jesus Christ, asked us to really live, and there in lies another sweet irony, Tom writes as a Buddhist, haha, and yet, written eloquently, spiritual truths, NEVER contradict other spiritual truths, and though when I began reading I had a preconceived notion I might not jive with everything he’d written, I never once found myself offended, or even skeptical or in disbelief. If anything, I only coveted some of those spiritual experiences he writes about that bring tears of joys to his eyes, hoping that I may one day be as blessed as to reach those states in simple meditation. I do believe it’s possible, I just have never been there before. But there again, he’s 30+ years sober and I’m only 4 years or so. He is truly a sage spiritual guide and anybody, Christian, Buddhist or whatever flavor ice cream you prefer can benefit from the mindful pages in this book.

It really was just a very well written, humble, honest story of recovery, and I recommend everyone pick up a copy. We are blessed to have Tom as an outlet for the Universe’s energy, and I’m truly a better man for having read the book, keeping an open mind, and reading through his wisdom when it comes to our 12 steps, and especially his emphasis on the 11th step. This is something I need to put more work into and it’s funny, because almost every meeting I went to this week talked about the 11th step and then the book I’m reading takes me to his summary of the 12 steps and his writing on it, being mindful, and being in the NOW, was really like God smacking me across the face with the Captain Obvious backhand. As always I hear what I need to hear when I really listen.

If you haven’t already, look up Tom Catton on facebook and go get and read his book, for any level of recovery, it is worth the read.

-Jared Bryan Smith

Success is the steady realization of a worthy goal. – Earl Nightingale

Posted: June 5, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Funny both my father who died when I was 11 to suicide, but really to alcoholism and addiction, and my step father who stepped into my life right after his death, both listened to Earl Nightingale tapes almost religiously. I listen to them over and over, as well as other philosophers and sales training gurus, and they almost always make me feel amazing. I hear different things at different times in my life. When I was 18 and trying just to survive I heard, just try, and God will get your back, as I remember it seemed so daunting, such a huge prospect to provide for a family at 18, but sure enough, after only six months of really struggling we were making really good money and I bought my wife and I a house. Now, emerging from the wreckage of the tail end of 20 years of destructive drinking and drugging I’ve really been hearing a different message as I listened to this former Marine, WW2 vet with his amazingly soothing voice.

I’ve been hearing, “Not only is it good to be working towards a goal, but you, as a human being, as a man, are most happy, when working HARD And Diligently to a worthy goal.” I think back over my life, and so it is the clear uncut truth. When I was trying to buy Anne Marie that house and provide food for my son, or when I was first trying to get sober, or then once I’d started the book, and the project of Books4freee.com, immersed in those goals, that is when I am the most happy, useful and whole.

Applying Think and Grow Rich’s principles from Napoleon Hill, a man who studied all the giants for industry, from Henry Ford to Thomas Edison, and believed that having a stated goal you said aloud in the morning right when you wake ups well as at nite right before you go to bed allows the principle of autosuggestion to tap into Infinite Intelligence, or God and keeps you focused on that goal all day long. I’ve never actually employed the principle without it working… it’s almost magic… and more it makes my days go by so much faster, and ever better happier. When I was sitting around waiting for the software to be developed for my new project, I had too much time on my hands and I was not anywhere near as happy as now, that I’m out in the field selling it! I don’t think I would be very happy retiring, I am much happier working towards a goal.

I’ve often marveled at how similar Napoleon Hill’s program, with it’s principles of autosuggestion and the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous really are. He is a big believer in the Mastermind Principle, as were quite a few philosophers in recorded history, most notable, Jesus Christ who said “Wherever two or more are there in my name” there I am , and whatever is asked for shall be received, so how fitting is it that almost all sponsors tell you to pray thanks at the end of every day and please give me strength at the beginning. Not too far off from stating a Definite Mission Statement summarizing a steady realization of a goal, worthy to be had, both morning and night. What is a meeting if not a Mastermind Principle, stating that all of us are there to stay sober, just for today.

Every time I tried staying sober on my own, I lasted a week or two, tops and then I would “Change my mind about sobriety.” Not only would I not change my mind once joining AA, but the staying sober part became much much easier. As if the bond that connects us has it’s own weight, it’s own mass, it’s own properties that make 1+1 = 4 instead of 2. It does ya know. It’s magic. I love it and I love the rooms.

If you find yourself unhappy in AA, get a goal. Hell, get a job, and then a goal. Something to works towards. Your OWN dreams, not somebody else s. And DREAM BIG, that’s what makes it exciting!!!!

Check out my featured profile on :

Theaddictedproject.com

How awesome to be listed among the ranks of VIII Days Clean!!! Slowly but surely!!!

They’ve got a picture of my real face up there, but fuck it, anonymity is overrated, and how anonymous can you really be in the age of facebook with over 3k AA friends connected to your profile, lol.

-Jared Bryan Smith