Like probably countless others, I use this prayer several times a day. Especially in early sobriety, it was a real blessing and helped me calm down whenever I would get jittery or uptight... which was probably often!
Bo B.

p.s.: I think this is a fabulous idea for a site, all about step eleven! It would be interesting to read some thoughts by whoever started this site.

I'm with you Bo, in early recovery this was my mantra.

These days, when I'm at my best, this prayer, especially the first line, reminds me of one of the most important things I have learnt in recovery.

Acceptance.

The truth is, most of the stuff that really irks me I cannot change, at least not in the ways I think I can. What I can change (sometimes, and with help) are my reactions to it, and sometimes the simple act of not over-reacting makes an enormous difference.

That said, much of the time the power of this prayer is simply in that it gives me a break from myself, a temporary freedom from bondage of self. Kind of like teaching a child to count to ten.

At my worst (regrettably, all too often), I just react and bite someone's head off - completely forgetting that this, or any other help, is freely available to me.

Excellent idea for a blog!

One thing I need to remember about the Serenity Prayer is that there are two other lines after "accepting the things I cannot change." I also need that courage and wisdom, which I've had a pretty short supply of. I sure am glad that I have a Higher Power who grants them to me. All I've gotta do is ask!

the serenity prayer was written by Reinhold Niehbur. The complete version is as follows:

God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can and
The wisdom to know the difference,

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.