Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Today's Gift
Friendship and community are, first of all, inner qualities.
—Henri J. M. Nouwen
Many of us mistakenly search outside ourselves for answers. We feel small inside and not very powerful. Many of us men have tried to change our lives by affecting the people around us. Naturally, when we think of making friends, we assume we would start by getting a friend. But such beginnings often don't lead very far.
Friendship begins as an inward attitude or feeling before it is expressed outwardly. Perhaps we could first notice whom we feel friendly toward. Whom do we admire? Whom do we feel an affinity with? Let that friendliness exist within, and it will begin to express itself. Are we grasping for acceptance or response? Let us remain with our own goodwill and not return to old attempts to get someone else to change. Friendship exists as a feeling of admiration, of love, of fellowship, without demand. And when we are another man's friends, let us accept his friendship and enjoy it without trying to change it or him.
Today, I will simply notice my friendly feelings toward others.
—Henri J. M. Nouwen
Many of us mistakenly search outside ourselves for answers. We feel small inside and not very powerful. Many of us men have tried to change our lives by affecting the people around us. Naturally, when we think of making friends, we assume we would start by getting a friend. But such beginnings often don't lead very far.
Friendship begins as an inward attitude or feeling before it is expressed outwardly. Perhaps we could first notice whom we feel friendly toward. Whom do we admire? Whom do we feel an affinity with? Let that friendliness exist within, and it will begin to express itself. Are we grasping for acceptance or response? Let us remain with our own goodwill and not return to old attempts to get someone else to change. Friendship exists as a feeling of admiration, of love, of fellowship, without demand. And when we are another man's friends, let us accept his friendship and enjoy it without trying to change it or him.
Today, I will simply notice my friendly feelings toward others.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Keep It Simple
I have an intense desire to return to the womb---Anybody’s ! ---Woody Allen
Some days the world just doesn’t seem safe. Maybe a friend died and your are hurting.
Maybe you argued with a loved one. You just want somebody to take care of you. You want to feel safe and warm.
I have an intense desire to return to the womb---Anybody’s ! ---Woody Allen
Some days the world just doesn’t seem safe. Maybe a friend died and your are hurting.
Maybe you argued with a loved one. You just want somebody to take care of you. You want to feel safe and warm.
Turn to the spiritual part of the program. Let your Higher Power hold you with warm, loving care. Pray. Pray to feel the programs will find you. Why? Because you’ve opened your heart to recovery. To be loved, you have to open up to love.
Prayer for the Day: I pray for an open heart. I pray that love of the program will find me and comfort me. Higher Power, I need Your love as a child needs the love of parents.
Action for the Day: Today, I’ll list three times the world has felt unsafe. I’ll meditate on how things would have been different if I had turned to my Higher Power for comfort.
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One Day At A Time
Acceptance
Suppose life deals me one crushing blow after another, none of them deserved.
What can I do about it? Well, I can weep and whine.
If that doesn't improve things, I can get drunk.
And if that doesn't work, I can kill myself. Or I can accept the situation and live.
Living appears to be the best; if things should happen to improve,
I will be around to benefit.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 1], p.29
Thought to Ponder . . .
Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A B C = Acceptance, Belief, Change.
Suppose life deals me one crushing blow after another, none of them deserved.
What can I do about it? Well, I can weep and whine.
If that doesn't improve things, I can get drunk.
And if that doesn't work, I can kill myself. Or I can accept the situation and live.
Living appears to be the best; if things should happen to improve,
I will be around to benefit.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 1], p.29
Thought to Ponder . . .
Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A B C = Acceptance, Belief, Change.
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Daily Motivation
Greater
Even when the pain is great, the goodness in your life is greater. Feel that goodness, wrap your awareness around it, and act on it.
You have always known what joy feels like, and you can always allow that joy to flow out through your life. Each joy lives again, even more intensely, every time it is recalled.
You have always known what joy feels like, and you can always allow that joy to flow out through your life. Each joy lives again, even more intensely, every time it is recalled.
Gently let go of the beliefs that you need this thing or that situation. Your spirit is always free to soar without limit, no matter what.
And when it does, when you allow the joy, when you celebrate the goodness, you bring real value to all that is around you. Instead of pretending that your troubles are an excuse to back down, see that they're actually an opportunity to enrich your life.
Every beauty exists solely because you see it as such. Choose to see the beauty woven through all that is.
The love in your life is greater than anything that might seem to bring you down. Allow that love to carry you forward no matter what.
-- Ralph Marston
I love you Ed...
ReplyDeleteThank you Anonymous, I may love you to if I knew who you are :-)
ReplyDelete