Comments on: The Greatest Gift http://jaredakers.com/the-greatest-gift/ Happiness for the Practical Mind Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:05:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jared http://jaredakers.com/the-greatest-gift/#comment-711 Jared Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:56:01 +0000 http://www.spiritualzen.net/?p=378#comment-711 Ally, That's a great question; how I chose life and found God. Quite simply I just asked for help and had the willingness to do whatever was suggested. The key is that I had to find something to live for; at my bottom it was real simple, I realized I didn't really want to die and thought about my mother and sister. Yet the decision was still not that easy because I knew how hard it was going to be to get better as I had tried before. The most important thing I learned is that I don't have to do it alone. There are people out there who can help and I just have to be diligent enough to find where I fit in. It's like when we say we want to stop drinking but are we "really" willing to go to any length? Deep inside we may not be ready to stop yet although we're miserable. We set ourselves up for failure and sabotage ourselves as we may feel deep inside we're not worth of true happiness. When I was at my bottom and made that tough decision to live, I knew I was willing to do anything, no matter what the cost or how hard it would be. Regardless of whether our not you may be alcoholic, I still believe there are three important ingredients to finding freedom and happiness; honesty, willingness, and open mindedness. I hope you find what you're looking for and I will do anything I can to help. Jared Ally,
That’s a great question; how I chose life and found God. Quite simply I just asked for help and had the willingness to do whatever was suggested. The key is that I had to find something to live for; at my bottom it was real simple, I realized I didn’t really want to die and thought about my mother and sister. Yet the decision was still not that easy because I knew how hard it was going to be to get better as I had tried before.

The most important thing I learned is that I don’t have to do it alone. There are people out there who can help and I just have to be diligent enough to find where I fit in.

It’s like when we say we want to stop drinking but are we “really” willing to go to any length? Deep inside we may not be ready to stop yet although we’re miserable. We set ourselves up for failure and sabotage ourselves as we may feel deep inside we’re not worth of true happiness. When I was at my bottom and made that tough decision to live, I knew I was willing to do anything, no matter what the cost or how hard it would be. Regardless of whether our not you may be alcoholic, I still believe there are three important ingredients to finding freedom and happiness; honesty, willingness, and open mindedness.

I hope you find what you’re looking for and I will do anything I can to help.

Jared

]]> By: ally http://jaredakers.com/the-greatest-gift/#comment-710 ally Mon, 01 Nov 2010 10:29:12 +0000 http://www.spiritualzen.net/?p=378#comment-710 Hi Jared, I came across your blog because of the tiny buddha website. I've already felt what you've felt --- you wanted to die and tried praying that you die soon. I still feel the same way sometimes. I've also tried to escape my problems through drinking alcohol but I've never really been alcoholic...or maybe I did, but it's not like I can't live w/o it. I just want to know as how you found God. How would you know if he really is listening or not? My problems may seem shallow compared to others but I don't feel that's he's really listening to me. I've also tried diverting my attention and tried my best to find my happiness elsewhere but I still end up feeling empty. :( I hope you'll share with me on how and why you decided to choose life...and how you found God. Thank you. Hi Jared,

I came across your blog because of the tiny buddha website.

I’ve already felt what you’ve felt — you wanted to die and tried praying that you die soon. I still feel the same way sometimes. I’ve also tried to escape my problems through drinking alcohol but I’ve never really been alcoholic…or maybe I did, but it’s not like I can’t live w/o it.

I just want to know as how you found God. How would you know if he really is listening or not? My problems may seem shallow compared to others but I don’t feel that’s he’s really listening to me.

I’ve also tried diverting my attention and tried my best to find my happiness elsewhere but I still end up feeling empty. :(

I hope you’ll share with me on how and why you decided to choose life…and how you found God.

Thank you.

]]> By: Jared http://jaredakers.com/the-greatest-gift/#comment-709 Jared Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:43:12 +0000 http://www.spiritualzen.net/?p=378#comment-709 Congrats TommyG! The promises certainly are coming true my friend! Thanks for stopping by! Congrats TommyG! The promises certainly are coming true my friend! Thanks for stopping by!

]]> By: gerlach http://jaredakers.com/the-greatest-gift/#comment-708 gerlach Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:37:45 +0000 http://www.spiritualzen.net/?p=378#comment-708 we will know a New Freedom and a New Happiness, We will not regret the past or wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word Serenity and we Will know Peace. Your story is so familiar. Grace.....Keep showing up my friend. The journey that you have impart upon is a ride you don't want to miss. Congratulation's. I just celebrated 24 years Jan 3rd. Tommyg we will know a New Freedom and a New Happiness, We will not regret the past or wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the
word Serenity and we Will know Peace. Your story is so familiar. Grace…..Keep showing up my friend. The journey that you have impart upon is a ride you don’t want to miss. Congratulation’s.
I just celebrated 24 years Jan 3rd.
Tommyg

]]> By: Jared http://jaredakers.com/the-greatest-gift/#comment-707 Jared Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:00:40 +0000 http://www.spiritualzen.net/?p=378#comment-707 mk, Congrats on your 9 months! That's awesome! I have a friend in recovery that no matter how long you have, he always says, "that's a critical time." ;-) I'm sure you've heard the saying that alcoholics treat loneliness with isolation. It is a simple program, but we often make it more difficult. Like worrying about our 5th step when we're on 3 or 4, worrying about step 9 when we're on 7. I find it best to simply concentrate on where I'm at today, and to remember that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. Thanks for sharing! mk,
Congrats on your 9 months! That’s awesome! I have a friend in recovery that no matter how long you have, he always says, “that’s a critical time.” ;-)

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that alcoholics treat loneliness with isolation.

It is a simple program, but we often make it more difficult. Like worrying about our 5th step when we’re on 3 or 4, worrying about step 9 when we’re on 7. I find it best to simply concentrate on where I’m at today, and to remember that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: mk http://jaredakers.com/the-greatest-gift/#comment-706 mk Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:33:42 +0000 http://www.spiritualzen.net/?p=378#comment-706 Hello Jared, You wrote: “I hate that this place of isolation has become more comfortable than failing as the person I want to be.” And my response: WOW! I have been sober now for just over 9 months and I am starting to feel myself naturally come out of my alcoholic isolation. I am craving life and I am awkwardly making my way toward it. That one statement that you wrote above really spoke to me because it took me back to my bottom and helped me be grateful for where I find myself today - thanks for sharing. You also wrote: "Each day I concentrate on three things: trust God, clean house (morally), and help others." Thanks for sharing the simplicity that recovery can/should be. As I am a newbie in recovery, forgetting that (the simplicity) of it all, is my number one offense and I always feel better when I keep that close. mk Hello Jared,

You wrote:

“I hate that this place of isolation has become more comfortable than failing as the person I want to be.”

And my response:

WOW! I have been sober now for just over 9 months and I am starting to feel myself naturally come out of my alcoholic isolation. I am craving life and I am awkwardly making my way toward it. That one statement that you wrote above really spoke to me because it took me back to my bottom and helped me be grateful for where I find myself today – thanks for sharing.

You also wrote:

“Each day I concentrate on three things: trust God, clean house (morally), and help others.”

Thanks for sharing the simplicity that recovery can/should be. As I am a newbie in recovery, forgetting that (the simplicity) of it all, is my number one offense and I always feel better when I keep that close.

mk

]]> By: Jared http://jaredakers.com/the-greatest-gift/#comment-705 Jared Fri, 29 May 2009 00:19:36 +0000 http://www.spiritualzen.net/?p=378#comment-705 @Lisis, Thanks for stopping by and your comments. Well said about empathizing and acting with compassion. @Lisis,
Thanks for stopping by and your comments. Well said about empathizing and acting with compassion.

]]> By: Lisis http://jaredakers.com/the-greatest-gift/#comment-704 Lisis Thu, 28 May 2009 16:03:36 +0000 http://www.spiritualzen.net/?p=378#comment-704 Jared... what a beautiful, touching story. I am SO glad you chose life. Although I haven't had to deal with alcoholism much in my life (except for one ex-boyfriend many moons ago) I have experienced my fair share of hopelessness and despair... both in friends and myself. I really get it when you wrote, "I want to die, I’m so so tired. I’m just tired." I've known that feeling. I guess you and I both were meant to feel the depths of despair so that we may empathize with others and act with compassion. Thank you, for sharing this. Jared… what a beautiful, touching story. I am SO glad you chose life. Although I haven’t had to deal with alcoholism much in my life (except for one ex-boyfriend many moons ago) I have experienced my fair share of hopelessness and despair… both in friends and myself. I really get it when you wrote, “I want to die, I’m so so tired. I’m just tired.” I’ve known that feeling.

I guess you and I both were meant to feel the depths of despair so that we may empathize with others and act with compassion.

Thank you, for sharing this.

]]> By: Jared http://jaredakers.com/the-greatest-gift/#comment-703 Jared Sun, 17 May 2009 12:55:17 +0000 http://www.spiritualzen.net/?p=378#comment-703 @Julie, Beautifully said. That's it exactly! @Julie,
Beautifully said. That’s it exactly!

]]> By: ~ Julie http://jaredakers.com/the-greatest-gift/#comment-702 ~ Julie Sat, 16 May 2009 20:44:15 +0000 http://www.spiritualzen.net/?p=378#comment-702 Jared, You had this experience because you were intended to come through it and inspire others and you are doing exactly that! Your parents and sister were a big part of that as well, they knew how to be there for you, but also when they had to leave it up to you. You went to the depths of pain before allowing yourself to awaken and you can help a greater number of people due to that. Luckily though, we don't all have to suffer to that degree in order to awaken. I feel that you will help many to find the freedom you have found without having to hit bottom first. That is a true blessing. Namasté Jared,

You had this experience because you were intended to come through it and inspire others and you are doing exactly that! Your parents and sister were a big part of that as well, they knew how to be there for you, but also when they had to leave it up to you. You went to the depths of pain before allowing yourself to awaken and you can help a greater number of people due to that. Luckily though, we don’t all have to suffer to that degree in order to awaken. I feel that you will help many to find the freedom you have found without having to hit bottom first. That is a true blessing.
Namasté

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