Daily Motivation 1-7-2013

Monday, January 7, 2013

Today's Gift

To affect the quality of the day - that is the highest of the arts. —Henry David Thoreau

We are the sculptors of our day. We can mold it creatively into a wonderful masterpiece. We control the amount of moisture we mix into our clay. We pound it, shape it, stroke it, and love it. Others can offer suggestions, and we gain new perspectives from their advice, but it is finally our own creation. Our knife may occasionally slip, or our mixture of earth may be too dry. Any great artist suffers temporary setbacks. Besides, imperfections in art often make it all the more interesting.

How creative can I be in my life today?

From Today's Gift: Daily Meditations for Families ©

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Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Keep It Simple

 

There are as many ways to live and grow as there are people. Our own ways are the only ways that should matter to us. --Evelyn Mandel

 

Wanting to control other people, to make them live as we'd have them live, makes the attainment of serenity impossible. And serenity is the goal we are seeking in this life.

 

We are each powerless over others, which relieves us of a great burden. Controlling our own behavior is a big enough job. Learning to behave responsibly takes practice. Most of us behaved irresponsibly for much of our lives. Emotional immaturity is slow to depart, but every responsible action we take gives us the courage for another--and then another. Our own fulfillment is the by-product of the accumulation of our own responsible actions. Others' actions need not concern us.

Action for the Day: Today, I will weigh my behavior carefully. Responsible behavior builds gladness of heart.

 

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One Day At A Time

 

Learning to Live
You will be learning to live. You will make mistakes,
but if you are in earnest they will not drag you down.
Instead, you will capitalize them.
A better way of life will emerge when they are overcome.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 117

Thought to Ponder . . .
The first step in overcoming mistakes is to admit them.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A R T = Always Remain Teachable

 

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Daily Motivation

Valuable beyond calculation

Your life is much too valuable to throw away any of it on negativity. Your time is too precious to fill it with self-pity or anger or resentment.

Would you purposely sit around and set hundred dollar bills on fire? Of course not. So don’t make the mistake of needlessly burning through your life, which is vastly more valuable than money. Choose instead to live every day with joy, love and meaningful purpose.

There’s no law that says you have to react negatively to negative situations. Ultimately, the way you live is the way you choose to live.

So choose to live in harmony with your highest values. Instead of letting mere circumstances determine how you are, let the beauty and value of your life determine the way you act.

Your unique life is valuable beyond any calculation. Live like it is, and make it even more so.

— Ralph Marston