A member who calls himself "Skeptical" posted this on the forum today (here):

I was a guy who used to fall multiple times a day. Recently I've been working really hard on myself and with the help of GYE I was able to stay clean for 6 months straight!

After a recent fall, I was able to be open with my wife about it almost immediately and she was able to take it a lot easier because we've been talking about this stuff much more openly. I had made up that in the event of such a situation, I would be open and honest with my wife (unthinkable a short 6 months ago!).

I'm in a much better place than I was a short 6 months ago. It wasn't always this way. Our first 6-7 years of marriage were VERY rocky. Boruch Hashem since I began working on myself with the help of this site, my relationship with my wife has improved immeasurably. She noticed the change in me before I even let her know that I was working on things, and she said so. That alone has been very encouraging to me. Just to give you a picture of where I'm coming from, a few nights ago my wife told me that this past anniversary was the first time since our first that she didn't wonder if it would be our last.      

Baruch Hashem!!!

Commitment VS Willingness

Someone writes to Duvid Chaim about his call:

Hi,

I was listening in on today's conference. Although I did not check in, I am committed to be sober today.

You asked a question that penetrated me. "Are you serious about being sober?" I am!!

I decided that a real commitment to daily calls is necessary for me to succeed. So here I am hoping to get help.

I thought I did not have time to spend an hour each day but I seem to make time for porn orgies when the lust overwhelms me.

I AM SERIOUS and I WILL COME BACK!

Thank you so much for giving of your time and energy to eloquently give me the strength to reach serenity and joy.

Yours Truly,

Committed Man

Duvid Chaim Responds:

Thank you Committed Man for checking in by email. And for your commitment to be SOBER TODAY!!

The Program emphasizes WILLINGNESS as the key to moving into and through the Program.

Please stop for a moment and think about the critical difference between commitment and willingness. -

• Commitment has at its root - the EGO.  The Self Centered belief that if I exert mySELF and try hard enough, I will succeed.
• But Willingness has at its root - the SURRENDER of ego.  The recognition that I don't know everything.  And that I can't succeed by myself.  That I need help...help from others, from my Sponsor, from my family...and most of all from G-d.
• Commitment takes BRAVERY
• Willingness takes HUMILITY

I hope that this brief explanation gives you the insight you need to move into the Program and attain the Joy and Serenity you so rightfully deserve!

Faithful Servants

What does it mean to serve?

Does this question touch a nerve?

You got some nerve!

To ask me to serve

You want me to be your slave?

Do you want me to build you a cave?

Or dig a grave?

Yea for you, I will dig a grave!

Go away!

Hide in a cave!

I am for me

Can't you see?

I'm a bee

I take for me

I take for me

And then I'm xyz

I'm gone

Breathless

Lifeless

Soulless

Bodiless

Liss

Less

When I'm for me

I'm dead can't you see

There is some glee

But then it turns to jelly

Sick in my belly

I feel me

I feel it

Yet all I feel is pain

And shame

And blame

It's all same

I'm out to the rases

To Hell and beyond

Yet they say

When I look outside my of glasses

I look and see the masses

The world that I never knew

I didn't have a clue

That in becoming of service

Put me back in service

I started to serve

A little bit

My shame and blame

All seemed so lame

This is fun

It's like a game

I will never be the same

 Betzalel B.

Grateful recovering lust addict!