Today's Thought -May

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May 16

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.

~Annie Dillard

Today is our life. Even though we are drawn to live in the past or have fears and hopes for the future, we only exist in the present. This moment is all we have, and it is enough. There is no need to center our thoughts on how things will turn out in the future because we are alive right now, and this is our life. Our memories exist only in our minds; they enrich the present, but we have no opportunity to relive them.

As we live in this moment and center our awareness in this moment, we have a sense that we can deal with it. Feeling overwhelmed comes from trying to take too big of a bite of time. It's more than anyone can swallow. In this moment, as we sit in our place, we have sensations of sight and sound and touch. We can deal with this moment and that is all we need to do … ever. Centered in this very time and this very place, we regain our peace of mind and our ability to live well.

Today is all I need, for today is my life.

Today's reading is from the book Stepping Stones: More Daily Meditations for Men*

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May 17

AA Thought for the Day

In Twelfth-Step work, the fourth part is conversion. Conversion means change. Prospects must learn to change their way of thinking. Until now, everything they've done has been connected with drinking. Now they must face a new kind of life without liquor. They must see and admit that they cannot overcome drinking by their own willpower, so they must turn to a Higher Power for help. They must start each day by asking their Higher Power for the strength to stay sober. This conversion to belief in a Higher Power comes gradually, as they try it and find that it works. Do I care enough about other alcoholics to help them to make this conversion?
Meditation for the Day

Discipline of yourself is absolutely necessary before the power of God is given to you. When you see others manifesting the power of God, you probably have not seen the discipline that went before. They made themselves ready. All your life is a preparation for more good to be accomplished when God knows that you are ready for it. So keep disciplining yourself in the spiritual life every day. Learn so much of the spiritual laws that your life cannot again be a failure. Others will see the outward manifestation of the inward discipline in your daily living.
Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may manifest God's power in my daily living. I pray that I may discipline myself so as to be ready to meet every opportunity.

Today's reading is from the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day: A Spiritual Resource with Practical Applications for Daily Life*

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May 18

Spring docs not ask an audience, but shapes each blossom perfectly, indifferent to applause.

~Joan Walsh Anglund

In the spring each blossom brings its own shape, color, and fragrance. The lilacs come early to spread their lavender splash. Apple trees burst into white, cherry blossoms into pink, and each weaves its unique and pleasant perfume.

They don't bloom because someone told them to, or because they will receive anything in return. They bloom for the pure joy of blooming. They bloom because that is what they are here to do.

Each one of us blooms in our own time, with our own color and fragrance. Every one of us is a special and important blossom, and we are all part of the tree of life.

How will my day today help me grow?

Today's reading is from the book Today's Gift: Daily Meditations for Families*

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May 19

Popcorn for breakfast! … It's like grits, but with high self-esteem.

~James Patterson

We need to lighten our step and believe in ourselves. We’re sober. We're honest. We're trustworthy. We're not making so many problems for other people anymore. We do our share. We can even help others sometimes.

We're glad that others help us. We thank our Higher Power every day. But we also give ourselves credit. We're working our program. We handle life as best we can. And as long as we ask our Higher Power to work through us, we can hold our heads high!
Prayer for the Day

Higher Power, help me feel proud of the changes in my life.
Action for the Day

Today I'll talk with my sponsor about pride. What is good pride? What should I watch out for?

Today's reading is from the book Keep it Simple: Daily Meditations for Twelve Step Beginnings and Renewal*

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May 20

In music, in the sea, in a flower, in a leaf, in an act of kindness ... I see what people call God in all these things.

~Pablo Casals

The Third Step refers to "God as we understood Him." The pathways to meeting our Higher Power and to our spiritual awakening are all around. Every tree and every leaf on every tree, as it rustles in the wind, expresses God in our lives. When the little bird flies overhead or when it comes to visit the feeder, we are being visited by a spirit. When the sky boils with a storm, when lightning and thunder crash, we are witnesses to a Power greater than ourselves, a Power that predates human history. The beautiful works of art created by our fellow human travelers on this journey through life are expressions of their courage to reach out and create something. A line of music moves us, and we feel the spirit.

A child makes a drawing and gives it away. A neighbor helps you start your car. You treat the checkout cashier like a real person. Whatever word we use for God, if we decide to be open and receptive, we find God in the little details of our lives. Spiritual awakening is a wonderful daily occurrence.

God, open my senses to take in your presence more fully.

Today's reading is from the book Touchstones: A Book of Daily Meditations for Men*

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May 21

Being humble

We are always simply servants of our groups, not presidents or authorities. We all take turns doing the fellowship's work. If we take on more than we can handle, chances are we'll feel martyred or we'll simply drop out. But this is not common when we share ourselves in the true spirit of service.

If we act in the true spirit of humility, cleaning up or putting away chairs will never be too low a task for us, and being a committee member will never be too exalted.

Am I developing humility?

Higher Power, help me to see how I might serve my group today in whatever capacity.

Today I will practice humility in serving my brothers and sisters by…

Today's reading is from the book Day by Day: Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts*

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May 22

Stay Connected

The last time I relapsed, my spouse was in the hospital. I went home alone and had to release the stress somehow. I went back to what I knew - drinking. I didn't reach out for support and came to the realization: connection was a big part that was missing.

When I tried to attend meetings and be of service to others, I was told I needed more time before I could partake in any real service positions. Since I wasn't getting connected, I started looking around for other support systems in sobriety. Beyond receiving text messages, reading my literature, and attending an AA meeting - if I needed in-person connection right away, I learned there were a lot of recovery programs online. With my online community, I've received so much support from others I haven't seen in person yet.

When in doubt, get plugged in with a community.

~Jen O., U.S. Army, 1995–2019

Today's reading is from the book Leave No One Behind: Daily meditations for Military Service Members and Veterans in Recovery*

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May 23

Reflection for the Day

My courage must come each day, as does my desire to avoid a single drink, a single tranquilizer, a single addictive act. It must be a continuing courage, without deviations and procrastination, without rashness, and without fear of obstacles. This would seem like a large order indeed, were it not for the fact that it is confined to this one day, and that within this day much power is given to me. Do I extend the Serenity Prayer to my entire life?
Today I Pray

May each new morning offer me a supply of courage to last me the day. If my courage is renewed each day, and I know that I need just a day's worth, that courage will always be fresh and the supply will not run out. May I realize, as days pass, that what I feared during the earliest days of my recovery I no longer fear, that my daily courage is now helping me cope with bigger problems.
Today I Will Remember

Higher Power, give me courage - just for today.

Today's reading is from the book A Day at a Time: Daily Reflections for Recovering People*

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May 24

Taking a time-out will benefit everyone.

Reacting too quickly to any situation, grave or mundane, can lead us astray. Only by pausing first to hear God's suggestion can we be certain of doing the right thing or saying what's best. Somebody has to be willing to back away from an ugly conflict, or it can turn violent. Let's be the ones.

The program has given us the tools, and we'll gain in the process. We'd never have won the war anyway. Arguments are normal - healthy, even. We all see circumstances from unique perspectives; thus disagreements ensue. How we represent these perspectives is a sign of how much we have grown, and the opportunities for more growth will present themselves daily. Learning that we have the choice to back away is powerful information. It makes peace possible.

I'll be quiet rather than argumentative today. The change will feel wonderfully peaceful.

Today's reading is from the book A Life of My Own: Meditations on Hope and Acceptance*

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May 25

Right now is the time to wake up from your sleepwalking through this life.

~Mel Ash

Some of us go through each day passively, as if we had no control over the direction of our experiences. We may think that luck or the actions of others are responsible for all that occurs. In fact, we have many choices. Awareness of our opportunities to choose and our use of that freedom are significant factors in shaping each day.

We can look searchingly at where we are and what we've contributed to our present situation. We can acknowledge and accept with compassion whoever we have been and whatever we have done in the past. We can empower ourselves to decide which attitudes and behaviors we would like to embrace and continue and which we'd like to change. We need not be stuck in passivity. We can choose new directions that foster healing and growth.

Today, I take actions that invite healing and positive change into my life.

Today's reading is from the book Glad Day

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May 26

Feeling Good

Make yourself feel good.

It's our job to first make ourselves feel better and then make ourselves feel good. Recovery is not only about stopping painful feelings; it is about creating a good life for ourselves.

We don't have to deny ourselves activities that help us feel good. Going to meetings, basking in the sun, exercising, taking a walk, or spending time with a friend are activities that may help us feel good. We each have our list. If we don't, we’re now free to explore, experiment, and develop that list.

When we find a behavior or activity that produces a good feeling, put it on the list. Then, do it frequently.

Let's stop denying ourselves good feelings and start doing things that make us feel good.

Today, I will do one activity or behavior that I know will create a good feeling for me. If I'm uncertain about what I like, I will experiment with one behavior today.

Today's reading is from the book The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations on Codependency*

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May 27

In dealing with other people, remember the three C's: You didn't cause it, you can't control it, and you can't cure it.

~Lorna P.

None of us lives in a vacuum. We all live in relational networks called systems. There are family systems, work systems, and church systems. We are constantly surrounded by and interacting with others. Some of those "others" have problems. Some of those closest to us have problems.

Adult children often display an exaggerated sense of responsibility - as if they’re responsible for those problems getting solved. With this in mind, we set out to "fix" the other. The fact is we didn't cause those problems, nor can we control the problems of another, and we surely can't cure them.

Recovery is an intensely personal matter - for us and for others. They will deal with their problems when they are ready and work as hard as they choose to overcome the problems they face.

Today, I will allow others the dignity of living as they wish to live.

Today's reading is from the book Days of Healing, Days of Joy: Daily Meditations for Adult Children*

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May 28

How unhappy is the person who cannot forgive himself or herself.

~Publilius Syrus

One of the most important things we do in recovery is to forgive ourselves. It is so important that it takes the first nine Steps to teach us to do it fully.

Our path to self-forgiveness is a difficult one. First we have to take a hard look at how we have lived and what we have done. Once we face the facts, we can decide to get well.

Why do we find it so hard to let go of blaming ourselves? Because our ego insists that we are in control and so we are to blame. We need to give up that idea and accept the facts. We have a disease that is stronger than we are.

Now we can face the damage, repair it, and move on with our lives. Now we can learn how to manage our disease - with help from our Higher Power and our program - and live a good and useful life.
Prayer for the Day

Higher Power, I can't be free to do your will for me when I am bound up in ego and self-blame. Help me let go, accept my disease, and forgive myself.
Today's Action

Today I will call my sponsor and talk about the ways I am being responsible for dealing with my disease. Then I can talk about self-forgiveness.

Today's reading is from the book God Grant Me: More Daily Meditations from the Authors of Keep It Simple*

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May 29

Letting Go and Trusting God

My treatment counselors had seen people like me before, and they suggested I see someone for my military issues. They made an appointment for me at the local veteran center. In July 1993, just six weeks sober, I went. On the walls were some memorabilia - pictures of military things.

By the time I got in to see the counselor, all these emotions were pretty close to the surface. He asked me to describe a couple of events I found troubling. When I did, I noticed he was crying. He happened to be a Vietnam vet who had twelve years of sobriety. By the time I ended my session, I had what he called a flooding experience. Everything stuffed deep down inside came back all at once. I was terrified, and more than anything I wanted another drink.

What I did instead, I stopped at the local Vietnam memorial on my way home. I got down on my knees and asked God for help. I decided to turn my will over to a God I had abandoned twenty-five years ago. And I didn't realize it immediately, but the compulsion to flee to alcohol and drugs was gone.

Even though I was sober, it took turning my will over to God for me to finally stop the automatic urge to drink or use drugs.

~Doc D., U.S. Army, 1968–1970

Today's reading is from the book Leave No One Behind: Daily meditations for Military Service Members and Veterans in Recovery*

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May 30

Friendship

Friendship of a kind that cannot easily be reversed tomorrow must have its roots in common interests and shared belief.

~Barbara W. Tuchman

We find the meaning of friendship in our fellowship. We no longer take hostages or allow ourselves to be hostages. We give and take freely in a spirit of good-natured affection. The friendship we find in our program is one where hidden agendas are left at the door. We relate to one another as human beings and fellow travelers.

We leave sharp, jealous attitudes in our old life, where they belong. We are careful to honor each individual. We remember that every person we meet has something to teach us. When we extend our hand to a person who is still suffering, we do not forget that it wasn’t so long ago someone extended a hand to us.

I find myself able to become friends with individuals I disliked at one time. They may not have changed, but I most certainly have. The world in general has become a much friendlier place.

Today's reading is from the book Easy Does It: A Book of Daily Twelve Step Meditations*