The 12 Steps and the 12 Traditions of A.A

 I read this book for the sole purpose of research. I found this book to be very insightful to the thought process of someone who is addicted to alcohol. A.A was created in 1935 by Dr. Bob and Bill W. The first text for the group was published in 1939. In 1950 they had a conference and in 2009 A.A was in over 180 countries.
     The 12 Steps are critical to the recovery of the addict.
      Step 1 We admitted we were powerless over alcohol and our lives have become unmanageable. This is the step when the user admits complete defeat and humiliation. They realize that their disease is a mental obsession and a physical allergy. They have to admit hopelessness, desire happiness and purpose, need self confidence, become open-minded, and have a willingness to listen. This often leads to revolt. But this is the first step toward liberation and strength.
       Step 2 We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. The user thought they were better than everyone else, have defied God blaming Him for not having the good things in life, and felt deserted. This is the step where a journey and a transformation has to happen for the user to continue on to the next steps. They must experience true humility, honesty, tolerance, ambition, be hard working, show fairness, and decency. They must take stock of themselves, make amends, and freely give.
      Step 3 Made a decision to turn over our will over to the care of God as we understood Him. Action equals cutting away the self that blocked God. The most important things in this step are willingness and will power. The dependence on God leads to a true independence. The user must try to find someone they can depend on.
     Step 4 Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Instincts are necessary for the human existence; procreation, social companionship, emotional security, but too much can lead to domination or revulsion; which is unhealthy. This is a subtle, dominating, rule of power. The user experiences self-loathing, guilt, resentment, blame, unwanted pride, self-pity, fear, and disturbances. They often ask themselves how did my personality change when I was using? What type of coping skills did I use? Great assets can turn into habits and they discover who they are.
      Step 5 Admitted to God, to ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. The user doesn't like to talk, experience a high degree of loneliness, and have a feeling of non-belonging. But they can be forgiven. This is made possible by accepting defeats, being honest, taking advice, holding back nothing, and accepting direction. By knowing who they are they attempt to become who they desire. The road to straight thinking creates a honest and genuine humility. The hardest thing in this step is finding someone who they can confide in.
      Step 6 Were tiredly ready to have God remove all these defects of character. This is when the user grows in the image and likeness in God. They want to remove the mania, come to grips with the most horrible defeats, desire self-preservation, and want to discover God's will for them. Delay is dangerous, rebellion can be fatal, but don't give up, beware of the 7 deadly sins, and aim to perfection. The difference is between being a boy/girl to becoming a man/woman.
      Step 7 Humbly ask Him to remove our shortcomings. They drank into oblivion and it was never enough. They never thought that being honest, having tolerance, and true love for man and God could be the basis of living. They must consider what humility is and the benefits are. "True humility" is

•  Submitting that God is the legitimate authority
• Recognizing virtues and talents that others possess, giving due honor and obedience
• Recognizing the limits of one's talents, ability, or authority; and, not reaching for what is beyond one's grasp

"False humility" is deprecating one's own sanctity, gifts, talents, and accomplishments for the sake of receiving praise from others. This involves the courage to summon their faith when symptoms arise. Shaping one's own destiny is possible if done right with God's purpose. Gaining a new perspective can help them get something they really wanted rather than something they MUST have.
      Step 8 Make a list of all persons we have harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all. This step involves repairing, cleaning away the past, and opening old wounds. Forgiveness, peace, partnership, and brotherhood is key. They must mend what they can, avoid extreme judgement, and this must be received on both sides. This really begins the end of isolation.
      Step 9 Make direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. This step involves good discretion, great timing, courage, and prudence. Prudence is learning from experience and having an open mind. The user needs to make sure that they are completely ready, take responsibility for the welfare others, try not to evade the issue at hand, and make sure their loved ones know they are serious. Seeking authority, being quick witted, having the ability to discipline, and seeing ahead to the possibility of a positive future is key.
      Step 10 Continue to take personal inventory and when we are wrong promptly admit it. The learning and growing process continues. Self-searching will become a habit, admit and accept what they find, and persistently try to correct this wrong. Look for progress not perfection, practice self-restraint, have a honest analysis of what's involved, display a willingness to admit when it's their fault, and the equal willingness to forgive. The user can't act in good purpose until self-restraint is automatic. Know their true motives, having gratitude, displaying kindness, having courtesy, and not making unreasonable demands is key. Trying for a better tomorrow and searching their heart with no fear or favor is the goal.
       Step 11 Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Prayer and meditation is a direct link to God. This gives peace, love, harmony, forgiveness, truth, hope, joy, comfort, and understanding. Constructive imagination brings emotional balance, peace of mind, wisdom, and strength.
       Step 12 Having a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, We tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. The joy of living, giving, helping others, giving advice, demonstrating faith, having leadership, freeing ambition, and walking humbly with God is key. This leads to being well grounded, realizing that they don't need to dominate to gain importance and they don't need to seek fame and honor to be praised. With the right attitudes and the right action is the key to good living.
     
The 12 Traditions

1. Our common welfare should come 1st; personal recovery depends upon A.A unity.
    Unity is most important, they are a small part of a whole, no personal sacrifice is too great, and they can have freedom but they have to work as a group.
2. For our group purpose there is 1 ultimate authority, a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience our leaders are but trusted servants; they don't govern. There is no one person that governs the A.A.
3. The only requirement of A.A is the desire to stop drinking. The ability to be free to choose to go to group or not.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A as a whole. The whole group can't be threatened.
5. Each group has 1 primary purpose to carry it's message to the alcoholic who still suffers. The message of A.A must be passed to other alcoholics and they should help any way we can.
6. An A.A group ought to never endorse,finance, or lend the A.A name to lest problems of money, property, or prestige divert us from our primary purpose. 
7. Every A.A group ought to be full self-supporting declining outside contributions. 
8. A.A should remain forever non-professional but our service centers may employ special workers. 
9. A.A, as such ought, never be
 organized but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible for those we serve. 
   They must be avoid the dangers of too much wealth, prestige, and entrenched power to tempt them.
10.  A.A has no opinion on outside issues; hence the name shall never be drawn into public controversy. 
  They must remain neutral.
11. Our public relations is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of the press, radio, and film.
  Personal ambition has no place and they must act as a guardian.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities. They must make sacrifices and have a high confidence in their future.

Your Left-Handed Child Making Things Easier for Left-handers in a Right-handed World

This book was about the differences that left-handed people have compared to right handed people. It had practical tips on how to make life easier too. I found this book to be educational and hilarious because most of the stuff they talked about I have personally struggled with and will always struggle with. I wish I had this book when I was going through school. It makes me look at how I do things in a whole new light. It also makes me want to relearn how to do some things too. They have a website where I can go and buy stuff suited for a lefty, anythingleft-handed.co.uk. I was very impressed.

The Choice

Gabby moves to North Carolina with her boyfriend to start a new job at a hospital. After a couple weeks her dog gets pregnant and she goes to her neighbor's house to tell Travis that his dogs is why. She later finds out that he is the town vet. Her relationship with her boyfriend has become stagnant and she starts to hang out Travis and his family. Trying new things, having picnics, and hanging on the beach. Shortly they fall in love and she has to choose if she wants to be with her boyfriend or Travis. She realizes that Travis makes her feel more alive than she has ever felt before. This is the first reference to the choice.
       Part 2 of the story kind freaked me about a bit because Sparks confused me.  I have never been confused by his books before. It flashes 11 years into the future unknowingly to me. Gabby did choose Travis over her dull boyfriend thank God. They got married and had 2 kids, both girls. Then on the way home from date night they get into a car accident. Travis wakes up but Gabby ends up in a coma. In the mean time he takes care of the girls and visits her quite regularly. Then after 3 months he is faced with choosing to let her die or move her to a nursing home. This is the second reference to the choice. I thought this part was interesting that he referenced the choice 2x's. Then he decided that he can't let her go and moves her to the nursing home. Miraculously 4 months later she wakes up proving that true loves prevails.
       For the first time I was actually disappointed with Sparks. When I found out she was in a coma I was like seriously he is going to kill her off and Travis will be heartbroken forever. He sorta in a way did kill her but not all the way and then brought her back to live happily ever after. I almost cried when I thought that she was gonna die but I was very impressed by the ending. Also this is the first Sparks book I have read that someone in the plot didn't have a special talent. I love the fact that he always ties his book tittle into the plot.

Crystal Kingdom

This is the 3rd book to the Kanin Chronicles. Bryn was kicked out of Dolstom in the last book Ice Kissed. She doesn't really have any place to go but she runs into Konstantin Black and teams up with him after he tells her what really happened the night he attacked her dad. He then tells her that Mina (the Dolstom queen) is evil and she recruited Kemnet to help her, is the one that is leading an attack out of revenge, seeks power at all costs, and she is behind everything. She will do anything including starting a war.
     They go see the Omete tribe for help. The Omete tribe are huge giants and ogres. The Omete tribe live in Louisiana. After a few days being locked up in a cell they are released. They find out later the Omete teamed up with Mina. They then went to Forening the capital of the Tyrelle tribe to get the queen to grant her amnesty. She does grant her amnesty. They stay with Finn, who is Ember's brother, and his family. Bryn goes to Iskyla, a really isolated city in the far North where Mina was born and lived for a short time, that is very desolate and isolated. She goes to see Mina's sister and finds out that Mina is Victor's daughter. Mina has Dolstom on lock down. Ridley and Tilda escape from Dolstom and they find Bryn.
      Mina declared war on the Skojare people because she wants their jewels. Bryn decided to go to Stravatten, the capital of the Skojare tribe, and help them train for war. The Tyrelle and the Vittra tribes come to help Skojare. The Tyrelle tribe have psychokinesis, and fire abilities. The Vittra tribe are hobgoblins that are stronger than the other tribe, are quick tempered, and aggressive. The queen put on a masquerade ball. Bryn got to dance with Ridley. Mina poisoned the king and blamed it on Bryn and Konstantin. She found out that Ridley was tortured by Mina after he helped her escape. During the ball some of the guards that were guarding the perimeter were attacked including Konstantin. After the attack Konstantin, Bryn, Tilda, Ridley, and a bunch of other people from Stravatten went to Dolstom. They were attacked on the way and then they camped outside of the city. Before the war began they went into the city to rescue their family members. During the rescue Bryn went back to rescue Ember because she wouldn't come with them and she gave her the letters she wrote. Ember was later killed saving her lover. During the family rescue Ridley was captured. The war started after that and they entered the city. After fighting for awhile she went to the place with Konstantin to rescue Ridley. He was inside a bird cage like in Splintered series in when Alice was captured and stuck in a bird cage her whole life. Mina wanted Konstantin to run away with her but he wouldn't go so she killed him. Bryn kills Mina, and rescues Ridley. After Bryn kills Mina the city is in shambles. Linus Berlin becomes the new king. Then they had a ceremony for the dead. Bryn got the people to clear Konstantin's name and he was regarded as a hero. Ridley stepped down form his position so he could be with Bryn and now he commands the trackers. Ridley and Bryn get to live happily after after. Bryn gets to become the king's personal assistant, and tracker. She is accepted fully into the Kanin society and gets an award for saving everyone.
      This was a great conclusion to the trilogy. I loved it. The only thing I didn't like was killing Ember, she was Bryn's best friend, and killing Konstantin. He really grew on me and what he said when he was killed was heart wrenching.

Twins Under the Christmas Tree

Isi has two 4 year old twins. She works at a bar to help make ends meet. Her life gets complicated when her babysitter for the twins moves away. She gets Conway to help her babysit them so she can finish her degree at a local community college to get a better job. Conway likes hanging out with the twins they have a really great time together but he is dead set set against being a dad. He is afraid that he will run out on them like his dad did to him. But he can't help the growing attraction to Isi. Isi wants to be with him so bad but knows that he will never commit to her. He even sets her up on a date. They both fight each other about being together until they have sex. He introduces her to his family too. They keep asking him what his problem is. He finally realizes that he can't live without Isi.
       This book was ok but I didn't like it that much. I don't like when characters constantly fight each other when they know they can't live without each other. The ending was very beautiful though.

Star Crossed

Helen lives on an island in the middle of nowhere. A new family the Delos move to the island. Helen is not impressed but the minute she meets Lucas she attacks him. She has this rage that she doesn't know how to control. She also see theses three women crying in blood every time she is near them which she later finds out is the furies. The keep attacking each other for weeks until she flies by accident to get away from this woman that was chasing her. Lucas catches her after she starts to fall cause he can fly too but they land hard on the beach which makes a crater and his family comes and saves them. Lucas has powers from Apollo. Helen has the ability to create lighting bolts, and fly which means she gets her powers from Zeus. Lucas teaches Helen how to fly. After Lucas saves Helen they no longer hate each other. They are forbidden lovers cause if Lucas starts a relationship with Helen it could start a new Trojan war.
      She finds out that the Delos and her are demigods. They are Scions which is basically descendants of demigods. Scion's have specific powers that all scions have that include strength, speed, agility, acute hearing and eyesight, rapid healing, beauty, and intelligence. Then they all have rare talents that arr specific to each individual like flying for example.
      There were 4 families of Greek Gods that fought each other during the Trojan war;The House of Arteus, The House of Rome, The House of Athens, and the House of Thebes. The families have been fighting for centuries. The houses joined with the Greek Gods to fight the Trojan war. The war went on for 10 years and Zeus had to step in to stop it. He made a truce to end the war but in order to do that he had to make sure that the houses never united together again. Then a few decades later the houses had this huge confrontation where they tried to eliminate each other. The House Atreus, the House of Athens, and the House of Rome were completely wiped out supposedly. The House of Thebes was the only house, which is the Delos family's house, separated from the 100 cousins so they would not kill each other. They are not sure what family Helen is from but her mother took some high risks to hide her. The families tried to raise the lost city of Atlantis so that the Greek Gods can return to Earth, rule, and to make the Scions immortal.
       Helen and Lucas want to have a relationship really bad but they are star crossed. Lucas's mom forbids them to stop seeing each other but they can't resist. Later on Creon who is the relative that lives in Venice, Italy comes after Helen because he wants to kill her. Helen finally gets to meet her mother and she discovers she has a gift of changing her face to any age she wants.  The family also finds out that not all the houses are extinct as they thought. They are very much alive still. The fates really have it in for the 4 houses. There has always been a pattern of star crossed lovers from different houses for decades. Helen's mom has dedicated her life to finding these star crossed lovers. Helen's mom gets kidnapped, a family member is killed, and Hector becomes an outcast for killing his own kin. The hundred cousins are on their way to try to kill Helen but I won't know more about that until the 2nd book.

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

I love starting a new book, with an author I have never read before, on a topic that has never really interested me. I have always loved supernatural shows and books. But a book about a girl who is being haunted by ghosts and demons have never really been my typical reading. But this new series I have started I am becoming obsessed with.
         Sunshine and her mom move from Austin, Texas to Washington state because her mom is a hospital nurse who gets transferred. The house that they move into is haunted by a spirit and shortly after they move in her mom gets possessed by a demon. I learned that a demon can be a ghost of someone that refuses to move on and slowly gets darker turning into a demon. Sunshine hears footsteps, drowning, and plays chess with a little girl ghost. She meets a boy named Nolan in her art class who starts to help her learn about the ghost and the demon so they can get rid of it. He believes in ghosts too because his grandfather believed in them. He is perfect boyfriend material for Sunshine. He discovers that Sunshine is a unique/rare supernatural creature known as a Luiseach. They are supposed to protect mortals from evil ghosts, help spirits move on, and get rid of spirits who won't move on or can't. They go visit a professor at a university a few towns over to get more information only later to find out he is a ghost too.
         She did some research and discovers that the little girl that haunts her drowned a year ago. She discovers that the little girl's mother is her creepy, weird, art teacher. She goes and visits her and she tells her she was a former Luiseach who gave up her powers. Her daughter was killed by her husband who was possessed by a water demon. She gave up her powers so that she could help Sunshine pass her test. She has a mentor and a protector. The test is that she is supposed to get rid/kill the water demon possessing her mother on New Year's night. She succeeds at her mission and she is glad to finally have her mother back. She finds out that Nolan is her protector. She hasn't met her mentor yet and her is supposed to help her with saving her race.
         This was an amazing book and I was completely addicted from page one!!! I discovered a new author and can't wait to read the next book that comes out March 2016.