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Today's Thought - September
September 1
If a child lives with approval, he learns to live with himself. ~Dorothy Law Nolte It has been said and proven over and over that a person’s self-image is largely formed by the image reflected back from other people. Those around us are mirrors. The more important they are to us, the more power they have to reflect our identity back to us. Thus, the world is largely in the process of being created daily before our own eyes. We are the most important people in the world to our children. Their identity, as we reflect it back to them, is the first and the most important information they receive. Despite the powerlessness we adult children may feel, let us also be aware of the enormous power we have in creating the self-image of our children. If we doubt this, all we need to do is recall the influence our parents had on us in forming our self-image. We have the same power over our children. As we were influenced then, so we influence now. A miracle is happening before our eyes if we but see it. I will lose no opportunity to show my children how beautiful they are. Today's reading is from the book Days of Healing, Days of Joy, Daily Meditations for Adult Children |
September 2
Appreciation is a wonderful thing; it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. ~Voltaire Appreciation is a big word for a big idea. To appreciate a thing means to really look at its value, its goodness, its beauty and to be glad about it. When we can do this, it changes our life. We become grateful. It used to be that we felt jealous when someone else was attractive or smart. We felt envy when we saw people who were having fun or who seemed to be in love with each other. Now that we are sober, we know that we can enjoy the beauty other people create. We can be happy that some people are smart and good at problem-solving. We can be glad that people are in love and raise good kids who will make the world a little better. When we see these things around us, we know that life holds good things for us, too. There is enough for everyone. Prayer for the Day Higher Power, help me turn my envy and jealousy into appreciation. I want to find joy and hope in the good things that others do. Today's Action Today I will list three qualities I appreciate in others. Do I want to find these things in myself? How can I do that? I will talk about it with my sponsor. Today's reading is from the book God Grant Me, More Daily Meditations from the Authors of Keep It Simple |
September 3
Experience has taught me this, that we undo ourselves by impatience. Misfortunes have their life and their limits, their sickness and their health. ~Michel de Montaigne Our program isn’t working. We are misunderstood. Nothing’s going well at work. We just can’t see it through. Why doesn’t someone help us? Impatience! We become fretful and blame others for our shortcomings. Impatience! We lose touch with the tempo of life and our own particular rhythm. Impatience! We are convinced our addiction will never stop tormenting us. Let’s slow down and get back in touch with life’s movement. We know that all things have their season and their motion and their end. It may feel like winter, but spring will come and then summer. Nothing remains static; everything changes and grows. There is a pattern to all life—including ours—if we are patient enough to discern it. I need to slow down to get in touch with the rhythms of my life and of life outside me. Today's reading is from the book Answers in the Heart, Daily Meditations for Men and Women Recovering from Sex Addiction |
September 4
Seize the Day! Possibilities and miracles are one and the same. ~Anonymous Many of us have seen happiness as a goal we couldn’t find. When we were children, we were taught that “life is a hard row to hoe.” We carried that over into our adult lives. Seize the day! We let too many of our days just slide by. None of those hours can be replaced. Why worry over past failures if there is a victory to win? Why keep thinking about our faults when we could be practicing virtues instead? Seize the day! Hold each moment tight and look at each one with wide-open eyes and mind. They are our lives, special to each of us. The moments pass swiftly into memory. Let those memories be good ones filled with joys large and small. Yesterday’s unhappiness can’t be changed, but today’s happiness is my own responsibility. Today's reading is from the book Easy Does It, A Book of Daily Twelve Step Meditations |
September 5
An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory. ~Friedrich Engels Overplanning, overthinking, and too much talking often hinder the actions that can bring real growth. We know this, and yet we still get trapped, usually by our fears that we’ll not proceed perfectly. Life is the process of making progress. We learn by doing, not just by thinking. We can make our forward steps more easily when we ask God to share the journey, but we have to put one foot in front of the other. And that usually leads us to someone else in need. How many times have we felt stuck or depressed or obsessively fearful, only to discover our head clearing and our heart calming when we got out of the house, out of ourselves, and focused on someone else? Helpful actions energize us and give us hope. They connect us to our Higher Power and make all the difference in our daily spiritual progress. I will not sit and obsess today. I’ll go out and find someone in need. Today's reading is from the book In God's Care, Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery |
September 6
To look backward for a while is to refresh the eye, to restore it, and to render it the more fit for its prime function of looking forward. ~Margaret Fairless Barber When we contemplate last month, last year, the period of time just before we came into this Twelve Step program, we can see many changes, good changes, have come our way. But we take the changes for granted sometimes. Or maybe we fail to reflect on them at all. We get caught up in the turmoil of the present, believing it will last forever, forgetting that yesterday's turmoil taught us much that we needed to know. The past, for most of us, was rife with pain. But now we have hope. We have gained on life. We may be back in the good graces of our family. Perhaps we have patched up some failed relationships. A career has beckoned to us. Good experiences have come to pass. But we aren't free of difficulties. They need not get us down again. Hindsight assures us that this, too, will pass. It also guarantees that we will move forward, just as we have again and again, if only we have faith. I will take this moment to look back at last year or the last binge. l can rest assured that l am moving forward. I will continue to do so. Today's reading is from the book Each Day a New Beginning, Daily meditations for Women |
September 7
To “be” means to be related. ~Alfred Korzybski In our using and codependent days, loneliness was ever-present. We could be with a crowd, but we felt alienated and alone. Many of us grew up in families where no one really knew how to feel close. We often longed for a closer connection with our fathers. As adult men, we learned to be self-sufficient, and we thought it was always superior to be able to do something without help. If we got help to accomplish something, it was somehow not quite as good as if we did it alone. Now we are part of a fellowship with other men and women who know what it’s like to be where we have been; they are on the same journey. We may have very different lives in some ways, but we have our common goal: to become better people. The true basis for our humanity, the real fulfillment of our potential, is in relationship with others. We no longer have to be locked in our isolated world. Through our friendships and our spiritual path, we are free to be ourselves. Today, I am grateful for my friends. Today's reading is from the book Stepping Stones, More Daily Meditations for Men |
September 8
AA Thought for the Day People believe in AA when they see it work. An actual demonstration is what convinces them. What they read in books, what they hear people say, doesn’t always convince them. But when they see a real honest-to-goodness change take place in a person, a change from a truly sick person to a sober, useful citizen, that’s something they can believe because they can see it. There’s really only one thing that proves to me that AA works. Have I seen the change in people who come into AA? Meditation for the Day Surrender and trust in God are the only conditions necessary for a spiritual life. Divine control means absolute faith and trust in God, a belief that God is the divine principle in the universe and that He is the intelligence and the love that controls the universe. Unquestioning obedience to God means living each day the way you believe God wants you to live, constantly seeking the guidance of God in every situation and being willing to do the right thing at all times. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may always be under Divine Control and always practice unquestioning obedience to God. I pray that I may be always ready to serve Him. Today's reading is from the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day, A Spiritual Resource with Practical Applications for Daily Life |
September 9
Inch by inch, row by row Someone bless these seeds I sow… ‘Till the rain comes tumblin' down. ~David Mallett We plant a garden with faith, never knowing exactly what the harvest will bring. We attend to those aspects of gardening which we have some control over, planting good seeds in rich soil, in straight rows, the right distance apart. We weed and fertilize, and we tie up our tomato plants. We may pray for rain, but we never know if we'll get too much or too little. We can't control the wind or rabbits or bugs or the strongest strains of weeds. Yet most of us do not let these things keep us from planting. With this same sort of faith, we can tend to ourselves. Though we don't know what each day will bring, we can plant the seeds in ourselves to meet most anything. We can rise each morning determined to give what we have. We can't plant the seeds for others, and we can't keep the storms from coming. The beauty is, we don't have to. What seeds of joy can I plant today? Today's reading is from the book Today's Gift, Daily Meditations for Families |
September 10
Pray without resentment in your heart. ~The Little Red Book Resentment is anger that we don’t want to turn over to our Higher Power. Sometimes, we want to keep our anger. Maybe we want to “get even.” It’s hard to be spiritual and full of anger at the same time. When we hold on to anger, it turns into self-will. We all get angry from time to time. This is normal. But we now have a program to help us let go of anger. We also know that stored-up anger can drive us back to alcohol and other drugs. Instead of trying to “get even,” let’s work at keeping anger out of our hearts. Prayer for the Day I pray without anger in my heart. Higher Power, I give You my anger. Have me work for justice, instead of acting like a judge. Action for the Day I’ll list any resentments I now have. I’ll talk about them at my next meeting. This is the best way to turn resentments over to my Higher Power. Today's reading is from the book Keep it Simple, Daily Meditations for Twelve Step Beginnings and Renewal |
September 11
A person who is looking for something doesn’t travel very fast. ~E. B. White What do men really want? What are we seeking? Many of us have felt driven and still feel restless or compulsive at times. We frantically followed our impulses to self-destructive extremes. Even those painful actions of our past were motivated, at the bottom line, by a spiritual search. What did we really seek in the bottle, or in the passionate bed, or in our work? Slowing down enough every day to let ourselves know what we are looking for gives us a much better chance of finding it. Today, we can slow down by taking twenty minutes for solitude and quiet, for meditation or prayer. We can call a friend simply for a moment of contact. We might read something to give ourselves some ideas to ponder, or we can listen to music that will transport us to another world. Perhaps we can simply walk more slowly from our car or the bus stop to our home. Often it is not the events in our lives that bring change but the space between events. Today, I will try to remember that slowing down may help me find what I am seeking. Today's reading is from the book Touchstones, A Book of Daily Meditations for Men |
September 12
Loving ourselves Our fellowship tells us to take care of ourselves first. It tells us that life and our Twelve Step program come before anyone or anything else. But what if we get too self-centered about this? Taking care of ourselves does not mean being selfish or maliciously hurting others to meet our own needs. What it means is that we learn to love and nurture ourselves, because we are important. We are truly closest to ourselves. If we don’t love ourselves, who will? The famous psychologist Erich Fromm said that if people can love productively, then they can also love themselves; if they can love only others, then they cannot love at all. This means that, to be able to love others, we need the capacity to love and care for ourselves. Am I learning to love myself? Higher Power, help me to love myself so that I may better love you and others. Today I will work on how I feel about myself by… Today's reading is from the book Day by Day, Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts |
September 13
Reflection for the Day My illness is unlike most other illnesses in that denial that I am sick is a primary symptom that I am sick. Like such other incurable illnesses as diabetes and arthritis, however, my illness is characterized by relapses. In recovery, we call such relapses “slips.” The one thing I know for certain is that I alone can cause myself to slip. Will I remember at all times that the thought precedes the action? Will I try to avoid “stinking thinking”? Today I Pray I ask my Higher Power to give me the power to resist temptations. May the responsibility for giving in, for having a “slip,” be on my shoulders and mine only. May I see beforehand if I am setting myself up for a slip by blame shifting, shirking my responsibility to myself, becoming the world’s poor puppet once again. My return to those old attitudes can be as much of a slip as the act of losing my sobriety. Today I Will Remember Nobody’s slip-proof. Today's reading is from the book A Day at a Time, Daily Reflections for Recovering People |
September 14
Turning the other cheek doesn’t mean giving up our right to respond. Revenge is not an option once we get accustomed to the Twelve Step principles. It never did give us more than a short-term rush, and it usually left us with guilt—lots of it. Now we are learning to acknowledge the boundaries between us and other people. This helps us detach from their mean-spiritedness, which often has prompted our own vengeful behavior. It’s important to distinguish between letting others stomp on us and letting them have their behavior. The program doesn’t say we should take abuse; it suggests instead that we rationally tailor our response, relying on God as our speechwriter. If we respond calmly and firmly, without attacking, we give all concerned an opportunity to calm down. Far fewer will be the times we’re haunted by guilt if we follow this action plan. Acting responsibly, with God’s help, will feel right and honorable to ourselves and the “opposition.” I need to stand up for myself always and, just as important, rely on God for support. Today's reading is from the book A Life of My Own, Meditations on Hope and Acceptance |
September 15
We are biological beings who manifest intentions. Imagine that we wake up in the morning with a desire to eat a specific food. This is just a thought formed in our mind. Then, with some focused attention and actions, available supplies, and some minimal skills, we are eating our creation fifteen minutes later. This is how the whole game of life operates, though not quite so fast and efficiently. Through combining the motivation of desire with informational knowledge and practical skills, we have the capacity to generate in the physical world what began simply as thought energy. This is true magic, and it is always available to every one of us. However, there are some techniques and rules of the game that make us more effective players, just as in the video gaming universe. Once we understand the basic structure of how using intentions to manifest reality works, we still need to practice, except we learn to do this in the real world rather than losing ourselves inside a gaming console. We each have a fairly predictable future, based on our past. Unless we shift something, we will continue to get what we have always gotten rather than what we intend or desire. I am realizing the magnificent and magical power of creating clear intentions. Today's reading is from the book Cornerstones, Daily Meditations for the Journey into Manhood and Recovery |
September 16
Detaching in Love Detachment is a key to recovery from codependency. It strengthens our healthy relationships—the ones that we want to grow and flourish. It benefits our difficult relationships— the ones that are teaching us to cope. It helps us! Detachment is not something we do once. It’s a daily behavior in recovery. We learn it when we’re beginning our recovery from codependency and adult children issues. And we continue to practice it along the way as we grow and change, and as our relationships grow and change. We learn to let go of people we love, people we like, and those we don’t particularly care for. We separate ourselves, and our process, from others and their process. We relinquish our tight hold and our need to control in our relationships. We take responsibility for ourselves; we allow others to do the same. We detach with the understanding that life is unfolding exactly as it needs to, for others and ourselves. The way life unfolds is good, even when it hurts. And ultimately, we can benefit from even the most difficult situations. We do this with the understanding that a Power greater than ourselves is in charge, and all is well. Today, I will apply the concept of detachment, to the best of my ability, in my relationships. If I can’t let go completely, I’ll try to “hang on loose." Today's reading is from the book The Language of Letting Go, Daily Meditations on Codependency |
September 17
Sometimes I’m awfully impressed by fools. ~Kelly Q. The man who said this memorable line had once believed he might feel better about himself if only he owned more. As an adult child, he felt he had missed out on something and somehow got the idea he could achieve peace by acquisition. So he started to collect things like boats, expensive new cars, better clothes, and so on. His models were people who had all the toys he was now collecting. He listened to them, followed them around, and imitated them. They were his heroes. Luckily, it didn’t take him too long to discover the truth. As he got to know these people, he saw they were no happier because of what they had. One or two of them were happy, but their happiness didn’t depend on what they had. The rest of them, he learned, were fools who mindlessly looked for joy and meaning outside themselves. This man’s “recovery by acquisition” experiment was only a slight detour, and he is back on the road to healthy thinking. He is no fool. Today, I thank God for peace and happiness and remember these riches are inside, not outside, me. Today's reading is from the book Days of Healing, Days of Joy, Daily Meditations for Adult Children |
September 18
If you were going to die soon and had only one call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? ~Stephen Levine When we were in the depths of our addiction, we could not be truly present in our relationships. We could not do the work of being caring and responsible. We were too focused on using alcohol or drugs to change our own feelings. Now that we are sober, we can change. We clean up our messes when we work Steps Eight and Nine. We list the people we have harmed, think about it, and then we make amends to them. Cleaning up our old messes makes us free to start over. We keep a better eye on our own behavior as we take our inventory every day in Step Ten, and we become decent, real human beings. We make real friends. Family members begin to trust us with their love. Our new sober life gradually fills up with people. Prayer for the Day Higher Power, help me be a real human being today. Help me understand my importance to others and treat my relationships with the respect they deserve. Today's Action I will imagine that I don’t have long to live and have only one call I can make. Who will I call, and what will I say? And why am I waiting? I will make that call today. If I need support, I will get it from a friend. Today's reading is from the book God Grant Me, More Daily Meditations from the Authors of Keep It Simple |
September 19
When you’re down and out, something always turns up—and it’s usually the noses of your friends. ~Orson Welles Friends ought to stand by us in adversity, and many do so. But if our sex addiction becomes public knowledge, we may find ourselves isolated. Friends drop away, lovers leave, children retreat into incomprehension. Now we really need support. We know we cannot go it alone; we have been alone too long. We need the strength that comes from other people. This is when we come to acknowledge the power of the group. Our program is based on the affection, strength, and caring of our fellow sufferers, many of whom have been in dark and lonely places, too. They understand; they are our brothers and sisters in sickness and in health. They understand and they do not condemn us; they have compassion that comes from fellowship in suffering. As we learn to trust them, we participate in a new communion of friendship that gives us strength and love. I need support, and I am finding it through my program and in my group. Today's reading is from the book Answers in the Heart, Daily Meditations for Men and Women Recovering from Sex Addiction |
September 20
Serving Serenity or peace of mind is accomplished by very few people in the world. True happiness will come to the person who seeks and finds how to serve others. ~Anonymous We are overjoyed that our giving and sharing is called volunteering. If, in carrying the message of hope, we are volunteers, we are happy to be among those who are volunteers in its purest form. We welcome a chance to serve. There are no honor rolls, awards, money, or trophies. We give for the pure joy of helping. Our greatest rewards come in the form of a firm handshake or a hug from someone to whom we’ve given. Sometimes it’s the gratitude in the eyes of a family member. That is enough. I want to practice the advice not to seek glory for kindnesses I perform. I can never be happy if I depend on material rewards for what I have given. Today's reading is from the book Easy Does It, A Book of Daily Twelve Step Meditations |
September 21
God is no enemy to you. He asks no more than that He hear you call Him “Friend.” ~A Course in Miracles It is natural for us to take a bit of pride in where we find ourselves today. It is natural for self-centered people like us to think we owe it all to our own efforts. So it’s an imposition to be asked to turn our will over to our Creator. We sometimes feel resentful at the suggestion that God can do a better job of running our life. We don’t even want to think about the sacrifices we might have to make with God in charge. But God doesn’t ask for sacrifice. God is not our enemy; we are. God only asks, as our friend, to be included in our decisions. My prayer today: Thanks, Friend, for my continuing recovery. Join me in everything that I do today. I will help myself grow today. Today's reading is from the book In God's Care, Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery |
September 22
An element of recovery is learning that we deserve success, the good things that come to us, and also that pain is a reality. We have the strength to deal with that pain without medicating, and it will pass. ~Dudley Martineau Many of us didn't understand the changing variables in being human. Our coping skills were at a minimum until we discovered what alcohol or pills, even food, could do for us. And then, a drink or two-or six, maybe-got us through many a lonely evening. The desire for an easy solution might still haunt us, but time, new experiences, and program friends have taught us that our past habits weren't really easy solutions. In reality, they increased our problems and led us nowhere. The Steps and the principles of the program, if applied, guarantee success, living success. We come to believe that strength enough to handle any situation is ours for the asking. And experience with these principles shows us that when we live the way our conscience dictates, the rewards are many. Every day, especially this one facing us, our choices and decisions will be many. But there is only one solution to any problem, and that's the one our higher power guides us to. The answer, the choice, always lies within, and the good life will accompany our thoughtful, reverent choices. The power of the program is mine for the taking. All of today's problems can be eased, if I choose to do so. Today's reading is from the book Each Day a New Beginning, Daily meditations for Women |
September 23
I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order. ~John Burroughs In the Twelve Steps, we see the term God several times. But from the program’s beginning, there have been atheists and agnostics using and valuing the Steps as their guide for life. Many men do not relate to a personal God. They do, however, experience the meaning and spirit of their group and the restoring powers of nature. That is why the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous included the phrase “God as we understood Him.” Whether a personal God is real to us or not, nature is there for us as a healing and refreshing source. We don’t have to go on a major trip to the mountains or fishing in the wilderness to find this source. We find it in the sky, the clouds, and the magical moon; we find it in the intricate structure of a leaf, a massive tree in the park, or a wild bird on a window ledge. There is no more clear evidence of the generous gifts that come unbidden than in nature. And we can rest in the Power greater than ourselves shown in creation and the forces of nature. Today, I will be soothed and healed by nature all around. Today's reading is from the book Stepping Stones, More Daily Meditations for Men |
September 24
AA Thought for the Day Before I met AA, I was very dishonest. I lied to my spouse constantly about where I had been and what I’d been doing. I took time off from my work and pretended I’d been sick or gave some other dishonest excuse. I was dishonest with myself, as well as with other people. I would never face myself as I really was or admit when I was wrong. I pretended to myself that I was as good as the next person, although I suspected I wasn’t. Am I now really honest? Meditation for the Day I must live in the world and yet live apart with God. I can go forth from my secret times of communion with God to the work of the world. To get the spiritual strength I need, my inner life must be lived apart from the world. I must wear the world as a loose garment. Nothing in the world should seriously upset me, as long as my inner life is lived with God. All successful living arises from this inner life. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may live my inner life with God. I pray that nothing shall invade or destroy that secret place of peace. Today's reading is from the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day, A Spiritual Resource with Practical Applications for Daily Life |
September 25
But don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden. ~Beatrix Potter Since we are members of a family, we are not free to do anything we like. We may not be able to go as far from home as we would like. We may have to get up earlier in the morning than we would like. We may have only limited use of the car. Families set up limits in order to maintain order and happiness. If each of us demanded something different for supper each night, the situation would be unmanageable. Limits also keep us safe. When Peter Rabbit was told not to go into Mr. McGregor's garden, it was for his own good. Limits and restrictions are a form of love and protection, and we all have them. When we bump up against one of these limits, we can be assured they serve to point us in another direction, one with freedoms of its own which we may never have explored without being forced to. What freedom can I discover in a limitation today? Today's reading is from the book Today's Gift, Daily Meditations for Families |
September 26
No human creature can give orders to love. ~George Sand If we’re trying to get others to love us, all we’re really doing is trying to be in control. Trying to control others can be a powerful drug. Remember, we can’t control others. We can’t make others love us. Our Higher Power has control, not us. So, what do we need to do? Turn things over to our Higher Power and just be ourselves. Sure, it can scare us to just be ourselves. The truth is, not everyone will love us. But if we’re honest about who we are, others will respect us. We’ll like ourselves better. And we’ll have a better chance of loving others and being loved. Prayer for the Day I pray to have my need for control lifted from me. I pray to be rid of self-will. Action for the Day Today I’ll list five ways my self-will—my need to control—has gotten me in trouble. Today's reading is from the book Keep it Simple, Daily Meditations for Twelve Step Beginnings and Renewal |
September 27
Anyone who lives art knows that psychoanalysis has no monopoly on the power to heal. Art and poetry have always been altering our ways of sensing and feeling—that is to say, altering the human body. ~Norman O. Brown A man can lead a healing life on many levels. On one level, many of us have turned to healing professionals for help. That may strengthen our program and be very beneficial for many of our problems. Relationships heal when they are loving, affirming, reliable, committed, and loyal. Nature heals: a tree, a walk through tall grass, a dry seedpod, or a potted plant gives life when we turn in its direction. Beauty heals: music, a poem, a novel, or a picture may move us to another plane and teach us about life. Meditation heals: solitude, quiet relaxation, prayer, and cosmic conscious ness bring an inner peace. Laughter heals. Physical activity heals. Doing something for others helps us. At the basic level, accepting ourselves as lovable men, just as we are, is the foundation for all healing. The forces for renewal and wholeness are varied. May I reach out to them and be healed by them. Today's reading is from the book Touchstones, A Book of Daily Meditations for Men |
September 28
Repairing the damage It really doesn’t matter how much we used or drank. The important thing is what it was doing to us, how it was affecting our lives. The biggest cop-out for people with addiction has always been, “I’m not using as much as other people, so maybe I’m not addicted.” We couldn’t admit what using was doing to our lives, our families, and friends. It nearly destroyed us, but now we have a chance to repair the damage. If we are willing to accept ourselves and to turn our will and our lives over to our Higher Power, we can restore our lives. Do I clearly see the destruction that my using caused? Higher Power, help me today to accept my addiction and to stop using excuses to avoid the task of recovery. One thing I will do today to begin repairing the damage caused by my using is… Today's reading is from the book Day by Day, Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts |
September 29
Reflection for the Day Those of us who find recovery choose to admit that we’re personally powerless over our addictions. In the program, as we surrender to our Higher Power, we develop a new, healthy dependence, even if it simply takes the shape of a dependence upon our group. Have I chosen to try for a life of honesty and humility, of selfless service to my fellows and my Higher Power? Today I Pray May I grow the wisdom to know the difference between “willpower” (which has failed me before) and “willingness” to seek help for my addiction, through my Higher Power and through others who are also recovering. May I know that there are choices open to me as there are to my fellow sufferers in the foggiest stages of addiction. May I choose the kind of life that my Higher Power wants for me. Today I Will Remember Willingness, more than willpower, is the key to recovery. Today's reading is from the book A Day at a Time, Daily Reflections for Recovering People |
September 30
It’s only moment by moment that we experience life. Worrying distorts our perception of an experience. It takes away the spontaneous joy that we might have known. Even more troubling, it compromises our ability to be present in the moment. When we worry, we aren’t in touch with what is happening in the present. Meanwhile, our lives can pass us by. There are so many things we can learn from Al-Anon or other Twelve Step programs. We can learn to live in the here and now. We can adopt a new set of values if the ones we’ve been living by serve us no more. We can learn from the experiences of others how to save ourselves from unnecessary pain. We can get to know our assets and our defects. And we can learn to rebuild bridges to link ourselves with other people, bridges that were burned in the past. Changing our lives with the help of the program gives us hope that we can begin to experience God’s plan for us as it unfolds moment by moment. Nothing can bring us greater freedom. I can live in the present moment. With determination I can let my worries go. Today's reading is from the book A Life of My Own, Meditations on Hope and Acceptance |
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