One Day At A Time

ISOLATION

”Solitude vivifies; isolation kills.”
Joseph Roux

As an introvert and an agoraphobic I relate to both sides of this quote. From an introverted point of view, I need solitude to regroup, renew, and refresh. It’s part of my process in life to have quiet time alone in order to “get it together”. When I’m alone and I read my OA literature and meditate on what I’m reading and learning, I’m able to gain new insight and a renewed sense of direction in my program.

From an agoraphobic point of view, isolation kills my ability to stick to my program. When my social anxiety cycles and it becomes difficult to get to meetings or make phone calls, I hide from the world ~ and from my friends and other OA members who can help me maintain my abstinence.

Solitude and Isolation are both active decisions. Both require some forethought. If solitude is what I need to in order to regroup, I have to make time for it. I have to take a walk, read a book, putter around my house. On the flip side, if I’m having a hard time with Program and my social anxiety is becoming unmanageable, I can either isolate and spiral down, or I can choose to take action and get to a meeting, make a phone call, or ask my sponsor to meet me for coffee. I don’t have to be alone in this program.

One day at a time…
I remember that I have control over my actions. Although I need solitude to heal, I don’t have to be alone in my disease.

~ Deb B. 

A Day at a Time - May 15 2026

Reflection for the Day

Looking back at those last desperate days before I came to The Program, I remember more than anything the feelings of loneliness and isolation. Even when I was surrounded by people, including my own family, the sense of “aloneness” was overwhelming. Even when I tried to act sociable and wore the mask of cheerfulness, I usually felt a terrible anger of not belonging.

Will I ever forget the misery of “being alone in a crowd?”

Today I Pray

I thank God for the greatest single joy that has come to me outside of my sobriety – the feeling that I am no longer alone. May I not assume that loneliness will vanish overnight. May I know that there will be a lonely time during recovery, especially since I must pull away from my former junkie friends or drinking buddies. I pray that I may find new friends who are recovering. I thank God for the fellowship of The program.

Today I Will Remember

I am not alone.

Hazelden Foundation

FR.LEO'S - April 15 2026

SOLITUDE
“People who take time to be alone usually have depth, originality, and quiet reserve

~ John Miller ~
Sometimes, I need to be alone. I need time to listen to my thoughts, consider my opinions, and strengthen my body. I need to pull away from my hectic life to be alone with me.

As a drinking alcoholic, I hated to be alone. I became paranoid about “leaving the fort.” Today I accept that nobody is indispensable* and the world will still be there when I return from the desert!

I grow in the stillness of solitude. I can rest in that “still” part of me that is my essential self. God is very close to me in the silence.

God, in the stillness of Your life, I am healed and rejuvenated.

© 2008 Leo Booth

FR. Leo Daily Meditations - 2nd November 2025

SOLITUDE

“In solitude, be a multitude of thyself.”

~ Tibullus ~

When I am alone and still, I get in touch with the side of me that includes “the many.” As a child of God, I am a multifaceted individual.

There are many sides to me: the crazy and the sane, the extroverted and the introverted, the demanding and the submissive, the bigoted and the compassionate, the religious and the skeptical, the happy and the sad, the comical and the tragic, and the sick and the recovering. I embrace my total self with love and acceptance.

Today in the silence of solitude, I experience the many sides of myself. I choose to live fully and honor the contradictions. This is my spiritual reality.

May my varied experiences inform my relationships with others.

© 2008 Leo Booth   

EASY DOES IT #essentialsofrecovery

SOLITUDE

I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.

~ Thoreau ~

Before the activities of any day begin, we dress our minds as carefully as we dress our bodies. Each day requires both planning and examining if it is to be helpful in our 12 Step progress. We perform such duties in solitude. Otherwise we will be lacking in the ability to cope and get the best from each day.

At the end of the day, silent and alone in thought, we weigh our words and actions of the past hours so we may understand how well we measured up to the hopes and expectations we had at the day’s beginning. That way, we can enrich tomorrow’s plans by the successes or mistakes we uncover.

Daydreams are not worthless if I have hope they can come true and faith that they will materialize. Solitude is my companion when I plan and evaluate.

©1990 by Anonymous. All rights reserved. Published by Hazelden 

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EASY DOES IT #essentialsofrec #Solitude

SOLITUDE

I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.

~ Thoreau ~

Before the activities of any day begin, we dress our minds as carefully as we dress our bodies. Each day requires both planning and examining if it is to be helpful in our 12 Step progress. We perform such duties in solitude. Otherwise we will be lacking in the ability to cope and get the best from each day.

At the end of the day, silent and alone in thought, we weigh our words and actions of the past hours so we may understand how well we measured up to the hopes and expectations we had at the day’s beginning. That way, we can enrich tomorrow’s plans by the successes or mistakes we uncover.

Daydreams are not worthless if I have hope they can come true and faith that they will materialize. Solitude is my companion when I plan and evaluate.

©1990 by Anonymous. All rights reserved. Published by Hazelden

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A WOMAN’S SPIRIT #essentialsofrecovery

Take time for solitude. How else can you contemplate the blessings of recovery.

~ Abby Warman 

Is it human nature to focus on what we lack? We waste many precious hours, hours that can never be recaptured, bemoaning what we think we deserve. While it’s true that what we get may not be what we want, the circumstances that have come our way snugly fit God’s plan for our unfolding lives.

It’s far more productive to spend our quiet times acknowledging the array of gifts we have received. Perhaps we need help from a sponsor or a friend to discover that we have not been shortchanged in this life. If we always gaze upon others, comparing their blessings to our own, we’ll never come to believe that each of us receives what is truly necessary to our personal growth. We are where we need to be. We get what we are supposed to have. Let’s practice gratitude.

I am grateful. I sometimes forget that Cod is in charge of my life. I will remember and pay special attention to the gifts I’m given today.

© 1994 by Hazelden Foundation 

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A Day At A Time #essentialsofrecovery

Reflection For The Day

I considered myself a “loner” in the days when I was actively addicted. Although I was often with other people — saw them, heard them, touched them–most of my important dialogues were with my inner self. I was certain that nobody else would ever understand. Considering my former opinion of myself, it’s likely that I didn’t want anybody to understand. I smiled through gritted teeth even as I was dying on the inside. Have my insides begun to match my outside since I’ve been in The Program?

Today I Pray

May my physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual selves become one, a while person again. I thank my Higher Power for showing me how to match my outside to my inside, to laugh when I feel like laughing, to cry when I feel sad, to recognize my own anger or fear or guilt. I pray for wholeness.

Today I Will Remember

I am becoming whole. 

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

SOLITUDE

“People who take time to be
alone usually have depth, originality and quiet reserve.”
–John Miller

I need to be alone. I need time to listen to my thoughts, consider my
opinions and strengthen my body. I need to pull away from my hectic
life to be alone with me.

As a drinking alcoholic I hated to be alone. I became paranoiac about
“leaving the fort” – today I accept that nobody is indispensable and
that the world will still be there when I return from the desert!

Today I grow in the stillness of solitude. I can rest in that “still” part
of me that is the essential me.

God is very close to me in the silence of self.

Lord, in the stillness of Your life, I am healed and rejuvenated.

Copyright Leo Booth

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

SOLITUDE


“People who take time to be alone usually have depth, originality and quiet reserve.”

–John Miller

I need to be alone. I need time to listen to my thoughts, consider my opinions and strengthen my body. I need to pull away from my hectic life to be alone with me.

As a drinking alcoholic I hated to be alone. I became paranoiac about “leaving the fort” – today I accept that nobody is indispensable and that the world will still be there when I return from the desert!

Today I grow in the stillness of solitude. I can rest in that “still” part of me that is the essential me.

God is very close to me in the silence of self.

Lord, in the stillness of Your life, I am healed and rejuvenated.

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FR. Leo Daily Meditations #essentialsofrecovery

SOLITUDE

“In solitude, be a multitude of thyself.”

~ Tibullus ~

When I am alone and still, I get in touch with the side of me that includes “the many.” As a child of God, I am a multifaceted individual.

There are many sides to me: the crazy and the sane, the extroverted and the introverted, the demanding and the submissive, the bigoted and the compassionate, the religious and the skeptical, the happy and the sad, the comical and the tragic, and the sick and the recovering. I embrace my total self with love and acceptance.

Today in the silence of solitude, I experience the many sides of myself. I choose to live fully and honor the contradictions. This is my spiritual reality.

May my varied experiences inform my relationships with others.

© 2008 Leo Booth

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

SOLITUDE


“People who take time to be alone usually have depth, originality and quiet reserve.”

–John Miller

I need to be alone. I need time to listen to my thoughts, consider my opinions and strengthen my body. I need to pull away from my hectic life to be alone with me.

As a drinking alcoholic I hated to be alone. I became paranoiac about “leaving the fort” – today I accept that nobody is indispensable and that the world will still be there when I return from the desert!

Today I grow in the stillness of solitude. I can rest in that “still” part of me that is the essential me.

God is very close to me in the silence of self.

Lord, in the stillness of Your life, I am healed and rejuvenated.

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As Bill Sees It #essentialsofrecovery

Alone No More, p.252


Alcoholism was a lonely business, even though we were surrounded by people who loved us. But when our self-will had driven everybody away and our isolation became complete, we commenced to play the big shot in cheap barrooms. Failing even in this, we had to fare forth alone on the street to depend upon the charity of passers-by.

We were trying to find emotional security either by dominating or by being dependent upon others. Even when our fortunes had not totally ebbed, we nevertheless found ourselves alone in the world. We still vainly tried to be secure by some unhealthy sort of domination or dependence.

For those of us who were like that, A.A. has a very special meaning. In this Fellowship we begin to learn right relations with people who understand us; we don’t have to be alone any more.

12 & 12, pp. 116-117

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FR. Leo Daily Meditations #essentialsofrecovery

SOLITUDE

“In solitude, be a multitude of thyself.”

~ Tibullus ~

When I am alone and still, I get in touch with the side of me that includes “the many.” As a child of God, I am a multifaceted individual.

There are many sides to me: the crazy and the sane, the extroverted and the introverted, the demanding and the submissive, the bigoted and the compassionate, the religious and the skeptical, the happy and the sad, the comical and the tragic, and the sick and the recovering. I embrace my total self with love and acceptance.

Today in the silence of solitude, I experience the many sides of myself. I choose to live fully and honor the contradictions. This is my spiritual reality.

May my varied experiences inform my relationships with others.

© 2008 Leo Booth

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As Bill Sees It #essentialsofrecovery

Going It Alone, p. 274

Going it alone in spiritual matters is dangerous. How many times have we heard well-intentioned people claim the guidance of God when it was plain that they were mistaken? Lacking both practice and humility, they deluded themselves and were so able to justify the most arrant nonsense on the ground that this was what God had told them.

People of very high spiritual development almost always insist on checking with friends or spiritual advisers the guidance they feel they have received from God. Surely, then, a novice ought not lay himself open to the chance of making foolish, perhaps tragic, blunders. While the comment or advice of others may not be infallible, it is likely to be far more specific than any direct guidance we may receive while we are still inexperienced in establishing contact with a Power greater than ourselves.

12 & 12, p. 60 

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As Bill Sees It #essentialsofrecovery

We Need Outside Help, p.248

It was evident that a solitary self-appraisal, and the admission of our defects based upon that alone, wouldn’t be nearly enough. We’d have to have outside help if we were surely to know and admit the truth about ourselves–the help of God and of another human being.

Only by discussing ourselves, holding back nothing, only by being willing to take advice and accept direction could we set foot on the road to straight thinking, solid honesty, and genuine humility.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

If we are fooling ourselves, a competent adviser can see this quickly. And, as he skillfully guides us away from our fantasies, we are surprised to find that we have few of the usual urges to defend ourselves against unpleasant truths. In no other way can fear, pride, and ignorance be so readily melted. After a time, we realize that we are standing firm on a brand-new foundation for integrity, and we gratefully credit our sponsors, whose advice pointed the way.

1. 12 & 12, p.59
2. Grapevine, August 1961

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The Eye Opener #essentialsofrecovery

Out in the world we brush elbows with men but, in solitude, we learn intimately about God and ourselves. Great truths are only born in solitary thought, never in crowded auditoriums.

God has some work to be done that only you can do. You have some problems that only He can solve. Why not sit down together sometime, just you two, and talk it over.

Copyright Hazelden Foundation 

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

SOLITUDE

“Everyone should try to find a spot to be alone.”

–Queen Juliana (Netherlands)

Greta Garbo was reported to have said, “I want to be alone.” Life brings its pressures, but we all need to find a place where we can be “alone”.

Alone – not to “think” or “do” – simply to be. We need time to simply rest in our lives. A time in the day which we can call our own, to have a visit with the most important person we have got in our lives – ourselves.

To rest in self is to experience “spiritual selfishness” – the joy of self-love.

And how much we look forward to setting aside a time just for heart and mind to center on the pathway to listening to God.

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Daily Tao / 4 – Reflection #essentialsofrecovery

Moon above water.
Sit in solitude.


If waters are placid, the moon will be mirrored perfectly. If we still ourselves, we can mirror the divine perfectly. But if we engage solely in the frenetic activities of our daily involvements, if we seek to impose our own schemes on the natural order, and if we allow ourselves to become absorbed in self-centered views, the surface of our waters becomes turbulent. Then we cannot be receptive to Tao.

There is no effort that we can make to still ourselves. True stillness comes naturally from moments of solitude where we allow our minds to settle. Just as water seeks its own level, the mind will gravitate toward the holy. Muddy water will become clear if allowed to stand undisturbed, and so too will the mind become clear if it is allowed to be still.

Neither the water nor the moon make any effort to achieve a reflection. In the same way, meditation will be natural and immediate.

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EASY DOES IT #essentialsofrecovery

MOVING AWAY

I’m slipping when I begin to dislike the company and conversation of the Program.

~ Anonymous ~

There is a reason why a lamb gets separated from a flock. The flock will be eating on a particular pasture and a lamb will take a fancy to grass just off to the edge of the field. So the lamb takes a little nibble of this grass. Then he moves just ever so slightly further from the edge and takes another little nibble, then just a bit further and another nibble.

Each little nibble of grass takes the lamb further and further from the flock. After a while, having eaten enough grass, the lamb pokes his head up and notices that the flock has left him. B-A-A-A-A-A! the lamb wails. How could his flock have left him?

I will begin slipping when I stop paying attention to my flock. My group will not leave me; I will leave my group. I will leave like the lamb, just one conversation, one meeting at a time. After a while I, too, could end up wailing for help just like the little lamb.

©1990 by Anonymous, Published by Hazelden 

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