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Write to:
SOS Save Our Selves
SOSsaveourselves@hotmail.com
Or
SOS-Save
Our Selves
Att: James Christopher
4773 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90027
(323)-666-4295
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.
Duaine M. from Dallas
Thank
You Terrance for being the first post at SOS Behind Bars. This is a great
start. Looking for more. Especially when you join us in the world
with out bars. Were lucky to have you as a supporter.
As I've met you, I know that you will be one many who will succeed & live a
life Clean & Sober. A friend Duaine M. 10/4/00
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
Duaine M here:
Thanks for the Post
Richard. The drawing that you sent will be used. Great
work Thanks.
Isn't it strange how friendships start and where we find them.
Hello Duaine and to everyone who
reads this.
I wish you a bright and happy day.
Many subjects come to mind when I
ponder the question of recover: outside recourses, attitude, positive
thinking, self-respect, responsibility, discipline, consistency,
obedience, etc., etc. Having an addictive character means to me that I
have developed a negative pattern of thinking which results in my failure.
For some people the addictive character may go beyond the point of
thinking, but for me it was the thinking part, which always landed me
behind bars. Being either unhappy of dissatisfied is a situation, not a
problem. It is the method or solution being used to handle my situation
where I begin to encounter problems, not the situation itself. The methods
used to solve a situation require my thinking to do so, so common sense
indicates to me that my analytical thinking is the problem in my addictive
character. In fact, my thinking is my character! My logical, rational
thinking is either positive or negative, and I am convinced negative
thinking is a destructive, invisible monster in my mind.
My way to recovery or to combat
this addictive character is to reverse this negative/positive thinking.
Since negative thinking is so-o-o well established in my character, over
numerous years of practice, it will take
much time to rethink my way to recovery.
At one point in this SOS Sobriety Program, I once thought
my problem stemmed from something missing or some void in my life. But I have
finally come to believe that the only thing missing was sobriety. In past times,
I had only accomplished adding a sedative in my life, not filling any voids,
because none exist. Everything which exist in a sober state of mind is all that
is necessary to accomplish whatever I set my mind to accomplish, there is
nothing missing. I need only to be disciplined, responsible and be held
accountable for my actions, so I may accomplish whatever I choose to do. My
actions are based upon choice. I have the freedom to choose between right and
wrong, between success and failure.
A lacking of self-respect had a very negative effect on my
sense of honesty and values. My self-worth turned to selfishness. Negativity
became my character. It took negative thinking to develop a negative character
and a negative character became my doom. My analytical thinking mind is either
positive or negative; thinking positive has never developed problems in my life.
Negativity has a very selfish aspect to it, in that; I tend to take the easy out
in dealing with life's disappointments or sticky situations. Having an addictive
character means that I have a problem with being able to accept living life on
life's terms.
I must learn to use caution where I may have a tendency to
demand control in matters, which are beyond my power to control. Subjects of
control are where a negative selfishness sneaks into my mind. A selfish control
mechanism usually results in my setting myself up to feel things like
impatience, disappointment, anger, frustration and hate the very worst of
feelings to make life miserable. Accepting life on life's term's means to me
that I must set aside and refrain from selfish thoughts and desires to control.
The subject of selfishness has many topics; selfish-control is only one of them.
I must beware daily in matters of control to ensure my intentions are not
dishonest or selfish. Mostly, I must learn to accept situations I have no power
to control.
I have deduced the core of my negative character down to
the point on the subject of thinking. A negative thought will result in a
negative feeling and I turn a negative feeling will result in a negative action.
Think, feel and action. It all seems so very simple and yet when selfishness and
dishonesty sets in simple things become very complicated. The more I scrutinize
my thinking, the more character traits I come to identify and recognize. The
more I think on positive sober subjects, the more I desire to commit to positive
choices and alternatives. I don't have to live in misery if I choose not to live
this way. I certainly won't find happiness on the negative side of the road, so
maybe I need driving lessons.
Now after being humiliated and realizing my mistakes, I
cannot turn back the hands of time and change the damage, which has been done.
Humility in it all is good in the way it lets me know I possess a wanting inside
to be a better person. I won't bother to wallow in the regrets; the decision to
change is all the constrictive repair possible on that subject. I commit myself
to honesty in all matters, positive thinking and improving self-esteem.
The situations I encounter daily in prison do not require
drugs or alcohol to result in trouble but it does require positive thinking and
a good attitude to get along with others around me. To scrutinize and rethink my
best thinking keeps me busy nowadays and the more practiced I become, the easier
it gets to catch my thoughts in action. The actual and true state of reality is
not always nice or pretty or easy to handle but as long as I remain sober, I am
ready to meet the challenge of life in a positive way. Sobriety is my priority.
The more I learn, the more life begins to have fulfillment and meaning for me.
Actually I am beginning to enjoy the challenges of sober-reality and what it has
to offer when used constructively.
Thanks for reading this. Take care and good luck in
everything you do.
Sincerely:
Richard
Dear Sir:
I was given this address by someone who goes to the same
SOS Meeting that I go to.
Now with due respect I must say that I don't know the exact
purpose of your address but I do know that y'all publish SOS material on the net
and well I want to thank y'all for your work because I feel that SOS is very
important to people like me.
So Thanks!
And please let everyone know that we in Ramsey 1 Unit have
a SOS weekly meeting. It's a very good group and I also want to thank everyone
in the meeting because they are being very helpful in my recovery.
I admit that I'm young in my recovery and would welcome all
help, advice or suggestions as to how to overcome these drinking thoughts that I
have…
Anyway thanks everyone and keep up the good work.
I'm out - take Care & Keep Recovery in Mind.
G. E.
Write To :
SOS Save Our Selves
SOSSaveOurSelves@hotmail.com
or
SOS-Save Our Selves
Att: James Christopher
4773 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90027
(323)-666-4295
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