We will try to post all the letters that you send.
If you have a Private Message. Please Write Private Not
For Posting.
Most people don't want to use their full name. State
how you want your post signed.
Hi my name is
Terrance:
I am a sober addict. I'm presently
incarcerated at the Hutchins State Jail Unit here in
Dallas, TX. My arrest & incarceration was a direct
result of my addiction. While attending a substance
abuse program provided by the Hutchins Unit, I was for
the first time informed about SOS, Save Our Selves. I
was interested in the Sobriety Priority concept
separating religion, or spirituality & all other issues,
from sobriety. Making getting & staying sober the focal
point of the program. Being that my religious beliefs
do not exactly coincide with the traditional Spiritual
12 Step Program. I wanted to learn more about SOS. I
attended my first Sobriety Meeting & was overwhelmed by
the support & encouragement I received from group
members for my efforts in accepting & taking control of
the changes & the reconstruction of my own life &
recovery. It is my choice & my decision alone to remain
sober, or abstain from Alcohol/Drugs & all other
mind-altering chemicals. By keeping & maintain a sober
state of mind & body I can efficiently & effectively
control my decision making process, use rational
thinking, & sound judgment in making decisions that
could very well effect my very existence here on earth,
along with the quality of life that could be lived.
Although I am aware & do realize, in this life, I can't
change the inevitable.
There are, and will be many
situations, or circumstances that I have no control
over. What I do control is my decision to experience
with a positive attitude, a sober state of mind & body.
The operating functions, of the faculties that aid, and
assist my in copping & dealing with life's
uncertainties, are now in a natural & pure state of mind
& body. Free from the influence of Alcohol/Drugs or
mind altering chemicals.
So
in essence, this alliterative lifestyle that I've chosen
to live, abstinent from Alcohol/Drugs is to my benefit &
the betterment of my life. Not only do I reap the
rewards, my family, friends, community,& the entire
world in which I live will benefit from my success in
staying sober.
SOS,
Save Our Selves, gives me the opportunity to openly
express the methods and strategies that I believe will
work for me. I take responsibility for my program of
recovery. Believing that Self or Self-Empowerment is
the motivating force that rules SOS & it's members.
SOS is
not against or in competition with 12 Step Programs.
SOS respects recovery in any form regardless of the path
by with it is achieved. The 12 Step Program of AA, NA,
CA, etc,... have aided thousands upon thousands get &
remain sober. Yet there are thousands upon thousands
like my-self who participated in 12-Step Programs & did
not benefit or remain sober from our participation.
It's not that the 12 Step Program is or was a failure,
it just didn't provide me with the results that were
beneficial to me. Eighty-five percent of the population
in the State of Texas Jails & Prisons are incarcerated
due to some kind of addiction, be it to Alcohol/Drugs,
Sex. Gambling, etc,....
The 12 Step
Program is not the solution for every one. That's a
Fact. SOS, Save Our Selves offers an Alternative Method
to get & remain sober. It's been proven to work for
thousands of people, SOS does not claim to be The Way
It's A Way A Choice that works for me,& other like
minded people. One day at a time.
Thank you for your time.
Mr. Duaine
Please find
enclosed a letter with a few words explaining how I feel
at this time concerning my sobriety recovery program.
You did advise me that you may place some or my entire
letter on the Internet so others may benefit by reading.
Feel free to use any or all as you see fit. In addition,
I drew the picture on the envelope just for you. The
picture depicts SOS with a little more expansion in
mind, exactly as I would like to see SOS succeed behind
bars.
We missed you
at the SOS meeting on Monday. Two regulars and myself
showed up, three newcomers attended the meeting. The
meeting had an air of inspiration to it; everyone agreed
the meeting was enjoyable and all would return. I know I
for one enjoyed the meeting. I'm a newcomer myself but I
learn more and more about myself and why I do what I do
the more I discuss my recovery, etc. etc.
You know I
sometimes think about you and wonder why you help others
as you do, knowing well you receive no pay. I sometimes
feel I could benefit or experience the feeling of
life-fulfillment by helping others to help themselves.
The more I become involved in sobriety programs, the
more positive thinking charges me and everyone I come in
contact with. Overall I can begin to enjoy life the more
I think about it.
I not only
missed seeing you at the meeting but I am also concerned
for your health. I don't like thinking you may not be
well, Anyhow, Duaine, we are looking to seeing you at
our next meeting if you are able, we really do need your
help.
I appreciate
what you are doing, Duaine. Keep up the good work. I
wish you all the best life has to offer. See you soon.
Sincerely
Richard
My name is
Richard. I'm a newcomer to this SOS Sobriety stuff. I've
always knew that I am a problem drinker but I've also
pretended or tried to fool myself to believe that I can
manage or control my drinking. I've always thought of
myself as being smart enough and talented enough to
amount to be "some body" someday but the problem there
is that in 25 years of touch-and-go drunkenness, I never
stayed sober long enough to have given myself enough
opportunity or chance to actually "become somebody"
instead of being the career drunk that I have become.
I've been sober
long enough now to consider becoming responsible for my
actions and to place more scrutiny on my pattern of
thinking. At one point I thought my problems were in
money matters, so as I setout to solve this, I ended up
with enough money to drink my way to hell and back. I
then thought that maybe the problem was with my
relations with women. It turned out no matter how good
life treated me; I had to be drunk to be happy.
Finally, I have
considered that, if I have to be drunk to feel happy,
then my concept of happiness must be wrong. I have
concluded that I have the tendency to look at life in a
somewhat dreary or negative way. At times, I tend to
have doubts on my talent or capabilities and so I tend
to procrastinate on matters more than to place more
emphasis on my value or self-worth. It would appear I
have conditioned my pattern of thinking over the years,
which results in my own self-destruction. My state of
reality is distorted. I have concluded my problem is a
lack of self-esteem. The more I begin to examine my
value, self-worth and look on life and people around me
in a more positive way, the happier I feel inside. I
have learned that, although it's OK to examine negative
effects, it is not OK that I lose sight of my value and
self-worth. Sort of like being prepared for the worst
but never losing sight of hoping for the best.
During my
self-examination I have begun to realize a vast array of
new alternatives and choices available to me in my brand
new process of practicing positive thinking, through
Positive Thinking, the more good I see in myself results
in my feeling happier about life going on around me.
There will always be bad days along with the good but my
learning to handle concerns around me thinking in a more
positive way, may result in a happier life and smile on
my face. The more good I see in me, the happier I feel;
exactly that the doctor ordered.
Realizing a
lacking in self-esteem has been my problem is sort of
the bottom-line here and realizing also that I am
desperate to be in the influence of positive minds,-
that's where SOS comes in. I feel SOS is respectful of
my right to see religious matters in my own way.
Besides, I was religious the whole time that I lost
sight of my self-esteem, so religion was not my problem.
I appreciate the relaxed informal atmosphere in SOS
Meetings, where I may feel comfortable and at ease to
discuss whatever comes to mind regarding my recovery and
to encourage others to continue their recovery as well.
For me to fellowship with others about sobriety and what
life has to offer with positive thinking results in
getting me supercharged for success.
I've learned
enough in my experience to have the desire not to
continue to wallow in failure. To improve my self-esteem
will require that I become just a little bit on the
selfish side when it comes to considering my value and
self-worth but I'm happy it. Having the desire to want
to change for better and to practice positive thinking
is the beginning of my recovery. This is my story and
sticking to it! Thanks for reading.
Sincerely -
Richard
Thank you at SOS Behind Bars web site for this page
to see all of
SOS Behind Bars go
to
http://www.sosbehndbars.org
