Father Leo’s

SUICIDE


“Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”

– Conte Vittorio Alfieri

There are many ways of committing suicide. The obvious way is to take your life — the ultimate escape. One can reach that point in life when there seems no hope, no purpose in living and death is attractive. Many alcoholics and addicts reach this point of despair.

However, there is a more subtle way of “suicide”, which is to kill yourself slowly — by a sick behavior and a negative attitude. I was “dying” in a lifestyle that revolved around alcohol. All I wanted to do was drink — I didn’t want to go anywhere, be with anyone or enjoy the thousand and one pleasures that life offers. I was dying in my life. I was becoming a “walking zombie”. I was committing suicide by degrees!

Today I can see this and I am glad I had the courage to live. My act of courage began with my “no” to alcohol.

Let me continue to live in my life.   

Father Leo’s - September 19th 2025

SUICIDE


“Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”

– Conte Vittorio Alfieri

There are many ways of committing suicide. The obvious way is to take your life — the ultimate escape. One can reach that point in life when there seems no hope, no purpose in living and death is attractive. Many alcoholics and addicts reach this point of despair.

However, there is a more subtle way of “suicide”, which is to kill yourself slowly — by a sick behavior and a negative attitude. I was “dying” in a lifestyle that revolved around alcohol. All I wanted to do was drink — I didn’t want to go anywhere, be with anyone or enjoy the thousand and one pleasures that life offers. I was dying in my life. I was becoming a “walking zombie”. I was committing suicide by degrees!

Today I can see this and I am glad I had the courage to live. My act of courage began with my “no” to alcohol.

Let me continue to live in my life.   

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

SUICIDE


“Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”

– Conte Vittorio Alfieri

There are many ways of committing suicide. The obvious way is to take your life — the ultimate escape. One can reach that point in life when there seems no hope, no purpose in living and death is attractive. Many alcoholics and addicts reach this point of despair.

However, there is a more subtle way of “suicide”, which is to kill yourself slowly — by a sick behavior and a negative attitude. I was “dying” in a lifestyle that revolved around alcohol. All I wanted to do was drink — I didn’t want to go anywhere, be with anyone or enjoy the thousand and one pleasures that life offers. I was dying in my life. I was becoming a “walking zombie”. I was committing suicide by degrees!

Today I can see this and I am glad I had the courage to live. My act of courage began with my “no” to alcohol.

Let me continue to live in my life.  

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

SUICIDE


“Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”

– Conte Vittorio Alfieri

There are many ways of committing suicide. The obvious way is to take your life — the ultimate escape. One can reach that point in life when there seems no hope, no purpose in living and death is attractive. Many alcoholics and addicts reach this point of despair.

However, there is a more subtle way of “suicide”, which is to kill yourself slowly — by a sick behavior and a negative attitude. I was “dying” in a lifestyle that revolved around alcohol. All I wanted to do was drink — I didn’t want to go anywhere, be with anyone or enjoy the thousand and one pleasures that life offers. I was dying in my life. I was becoming a “walking zombie”. I was committing suicide by degrees!

Today I can see this and I am glad I had the courage to live. My act of courage began with my “no” to alcohol.

Let me continue to live in my life. 

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

SUICIDE


“Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”

– Conte Vittorio Alfieri

There are many ways of committing suicide. The obvious way is to take your life — the ultimate escape. One can reach that point in life when there seems no hope, no purpose in living and death is attractive. Many alcoholics and addicts reach this point of despair.

However, there is a more subtle way of “suicide”, which is to kill yourself slowly — by a sick behavior and a negative attitude. I was “dying” in a lifestyle that revolved around alcohol. All I wanted to do was drink — I didn’t want to go anywhere, be with anyone or enjoy the thousand and one pleasures that life offers. I was dying in my life. I was becoming a “walking zombie”. I was committing suicide by degrees!

Today I can see this and I am glad I had the courage to live. My act of courage began with my “no” to alcohol.

Let me continue to live in my life.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

SUICIDE


“Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”

– Conte Vittorio Alfieri

There are many ways of committing suicide. The obvious way is to take your life — the ultimate escape. One can reach that point in life when there seems no hope, no purpose in living and death is attractive. Many alcoholics and addicts reach this point of despair.

However, there is a more subtle way of “suicide”, which is to kill yourself slowly — by a sick behavior and a negative attitude. I was “dying” in a lifestyle that revolved around alcohol. All I wanted to do was drink — I didn’t want to go anywhere, be with anyone or enjoy the thousand and one pleasures that life offers. I was dying in my life. I was becoming a “walking zombie”. I was committing suicide by degrees!

Today I can see this and I am glad I had the courage to live. My act of courage began with my “no” to alcohol.

Let me continue to live in my life.  

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

SUICIDE


“Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”

– Conte Vittorio Alfieri

There are many ways of committing suicide. The obvious way is to take your life — the ultimate escape. One can reach that point in life when there seems no hope, no purpose in living and death is attractive. Many alcoholics and addicts reach this point of despair.

However, there is a more subtle way of “suicide”, which is to kill yourself slowly — by a sick behavior and a negative attitude. I was “dying” in a lifestyle that revolved around alcohol. All I wanted to do was drink — I didn’t want to go anywhere, be with anyone or enjoy the thousand and one pleasures that life offers. I was dying in my life. I was becoming a “walking zombie”. I was committing suicide by degrees!

Today I can see this and I am glad I had the courage to live. My act of courage began with my “no” to alcohol.

Let me continue to live in my life.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

SUICIDE


“Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”

– Conte Vittorio Alfieri

There are many ways of committing suicide. The obvious way is to take your life — the ultimate escape. One can reach that point in life when there seems no hope, no purpose in living and death is attractive. Many alcoholics and addicts reach this point of despair.

However, there is a more subtle way of “suicide”, which is to kill yourself slowly — by a sick behavior and a negative attitude. I was “dying” in a lifestyle that revolved around alcohol. All I wanted to do was drink — I didn’t want to go anywhere, be with anyone or enjoy the thousand and one pleasures that life offers. I was dying in my life. I was becoming a “walking zombie”. I was committing suicide by degrees!

Today I can see this and I am glad I had the courage to live. My act of courage began with my “no” to alcohol.

Let me continue to live in my life.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

One Day At A Time #essentialsofrecovery

SLOW SUICIDE


“He who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide.”

–Solomon

Rather than a regular, sudden suicide, I have subtly entertained the idea of slow suicide. I have neglected myself: my health, my vision and my gifts. I have either taken actions that have harmed me, or I have neglected to take actions that would have helped me to live a longer and more productive life. I have stuffed my face with garbage, accepting that as my fate.

Today I have a program that teaches me that I can’t take care of myself alone and that I can, and will, receive help. I accept that help with humility, taking the Steps I am shown and using the tools I am offered. I begin to see that I have something to offer others and my life takes on new meaning and purpose.

One day at a time…
I pray that I will say “yes” to my own life today, and take actions which represent that “yes.”

~ Q

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KEEP IT SIMPLE #essentialsofrecovery

An alcoholic spends his life committing suicide on the installment plan.

~ Laurence Peter 

None of us woke up one morning and found we had suddenly turned into an addict. We got to be one by practice. And we practiced often. We ignored our families—we left work early—and went drinking and drugging. Daily, we chose chemicals over anything else.

Likewise, getting sober is no accident. We use the Steps. We work the program. At meetings, we’re reminded to help others. We all get sober on the installment plan. A day at a time. We got sick one day at a time; we recover one day at a time.

Prayer for the Day

Today, with my Higher Power’s help, I’ll be happier, more honest, more sober. Sobriety is like a good savings account. Higher Power, help me to put in more than I take out.

Action for the Day

I’ll go over my Step One to remind myself it’s no accident I’m an addict.

Copyright © 1988 by Hazelden Foundation 

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

One Day At A Time #essentialsofrecovery

SLOW SUICIDE

“He who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide.”

–Solomon

Rather than a regular, sudden suicide, I have subtly entertained the idea of slow suicide. I have neglected myself: my health, my vision and my gifts. I have either taken actions that have harmed me, or I have neglected to take actions that would have helped me to live a longer and more productive life. I have stuffed my face with garbage, accepting that as my fate.

Today I have a program that teaches me that I can’t take care of myself alone and that I can, and will, receive help. I accept that help with humility, taking the Steps I am shown and using the tools I am offered. I begin to see that I have something to offer others and my life takes on new meaning and purpose.


One day at a time…

I pray that I will say “yes” to my own life today, and take actions which represent that “yes.”


~ Q

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The Eye Opener #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Suicide

In our drinking days, most of us entertained frequent ideas about suicide, but we did nothing about it because we either lacked the nerve, lost our ability to make and carry through any decision or we still had some hope that sometime, somehow, something could be done. We were still in love with life, rotten as our living was.

The real joy of living came only when our living had some purpose, and it will stay sweet as long as we actively engage in constructive, purposeful living.

Hazelden Foundation 

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KEEP IT SIMPLE #essentialsofrec #Recovery #AA #Suicide

An alcoholic spends his life committing suicide on the installment plan.

~ Laurence Peter 

None of us woke up one morning and found we had suddenly turned into an addict. We got to be one by practice. And we practiced often. We ignored our families—we left work early—and went drinking and drugging. Daily, we chose chemicals over anything else.

Likewise, getting sober is no accident. We use the Steps. We work the program. At meetings, we’re reminded to help others. We all get sober on the installment plan. A day at a time. We got sick one day at a time; we recover one day at a time.

Prayer for the Day

Today, with my Higher Power’s help, I’ll be happier, more honest, more sober. Sobriety is like a good savings account. Higher Power, help me to put in more than I take out.

Action for the Day

I’ll go over my Step One to remind myself it’s no accident I’m an addict.

Copyright © 1988 by Hazelden Foundation

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #Suicide #Recovery

 19
September

SUICIDE


“Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”

– Conte Vittorio Alfieri

There are many ways of committing suicide. The obvious way is to take your life — the ultimate escape. One can reach that point in life when there seems no hope, no purpose in living and death is attractive. Many alcoholics and addicts reach this point of despair.

However, there is a more subtle way of “suicide”, which is to kill yourself slowly — by a sick behavior and a negative attitude. I was “dying” in a lifestyle that revolved around alcohol. All I wanted to do was drink — I didn’t want to go anywhere, be with anyone or enjoy the thousand and one pleasures that life offers. I was dying in my life. I was becoming a “walking zombie”. I was committing suicide by degrees!

Today I can see this and I am glad I had the courage to live. My act of courage began with my “no” to alcohol.

Let me continue to live in my life.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

One Day At A Time #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Suicide

14
September 

SLOW SUICIDE


“He who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide.”

–Solomon

Rather than a regular, sudden suicide, I have subtly entertained the idea of slow suicide. I have neglected myself: my health, my vision and my gifts. I have either taken actions that have harmed me, or I have neglected to take actions that would have helped me to live a longer and more productive life. I have stuffed my face with garbage, accepting that as my fate.

Today I have a program that teaches me that I can’t take care of myself alone and that I can, and will, receive help. I accept that help with humility, taking the Steps I am shown and using the tools I am offered. I begin to see that I have something to offer others and my life takes on new meaning and purpose.

One day at a time…
I pray that I will say “yes” to my own life today, and take actions which represent that “yes.”

~ Q

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Step by Step #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Suicide

19
August

“There are many things worse than dying, but is there any death worse than the progressive, self-induced slow suicide of the practising alcoholic? The alcoholic suffers death many times over. Alcohol wrings the guts out of life, eats into the brain in such a way as to make the alcoholic blind to the truth. I served 12 years in prison, never suspecting that without alcohol I would not have been in prison at all. Had it not been for AA in prison …I’ll never know, but my educated guess is that I would not be alive today.”

 – Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, “They Lost Nearly All,” Ch 1 (“A Five-Time Loser Wins”), p 457.

Today, like a prison inmate, I experienced the multiple deaths of a drinking alcoholic in the form of losses of family, friends, jobs and milestone experiences like a son’s or daughter’s wedding or birth of my own child, people and experiences that cannot be reclaimed. And, like an inmate, I may not even yet realize that I may never have suffered those losses because of alcohol. But, today, I am sober and in recovery, and the Program has taught me to think now in terms of life because, in surrendering in Step One, I chose life over death. Now I must surrender the regrets and pain from those losses and anticipate whatever new life is yet to come. And whatever life has planned for me, I can do it now because I am sober – because I chose life. And our common journey continues. 

Step by step. – Chris M.

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