Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Today's Gift
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In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. —Albert Camus
Sometimes we suddenly see or sense opposite emotions within ourselves. The cold of winter presses in on us, and we may feel tested by its bite. Yet, when we think we cannot bear it a moment longer, we find a counterforce within, an inner reassurance that comes like a summer breeze and says we can do what we must. Perhaps it comes in a time of dark despair, and we realize that at least we've made it this far. We are pretty tough. In our deepest sadness about the loss of a love, we may find a more meaningful contact with our Higher Power.
The opposites in our lives may tempt us to fight them. One side may be very clear and obvious while the other side is hidden. When we are open, these extremes are spiritual teachers for us. As we think about life and our feelings today, what opposites do we find?
Today, I will remember that I have an invincible summer at the deepest part of winter in my life.
From Touchstones: A Book of Daily Meditations for Men ©
From: Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation - Thought for the Day http://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/recovery/thought-for-the-day
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Keep It Simple
Faith is like the air in a balloon. If you've got it you're filled. If you don't, you're empty. --Peggy Cahn
Being faith-filled takes effort, not unlike becoming a good writer, tennis player, or pianist. Faith grows within our hearts, but we must devote time to foster this growth. Daily discussions with our Higher Power are required, frequent quiet times to hearour Higher Power's messages to us--just as practice on the court, hitting balls or sitting for extended periods at the typewriter or a piano are necessary to attainment of these goals.
Life's difficulties are eased when we have faith. The most frightening situation, a job interview, an evaluation with our boss, a showdown with a friend, can be handled confidently when we let our faith work for us. But, we must first work for it, work to attain it and work to keep it. Like any skill, it gets rusty with lack of use.
Action for the Day: I will make sure to add to my reserves today. We never know when we may need to let our faith direct our every action. I will make a friend of my higher power, and that partnership will carry me over any troubled time.
From: Bluidkiti's Alcohol and Drug Addictions Recovery Help/Support Forums
One Day At A Time
Meditation
Whatever I learn during meditation applies to me in my life, not necessarily to anyone else.
The messages are usually what I need to hear at a particular time, whether I agree or not. For example:
Help yourself by helping someone else first.
When in doubt, be silent.
Grow where you are planted.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 3], p. 219
Thought to Ponder . . .
Meditation is our step out into the sun.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
G R A C E = Gently Releasing All Conscious Expectations.
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net)
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Daily Motivation
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
You made it through
by Ralph Marston
You’ve experienced difficult situations you thought you would never get through. And yet you did make it through.
There have been times when challenges seemed to completely overwhelm you. And though you thought you might never overcome them, you did.
You’ve suffered losses you thought you’d never be able to get beyond. And as painful as they were, you found a way to move forward.
So here you are now, stronger, wiser, with valuable skills, knowledge and experience. Every difficulty that has come, you’ve made it through, and have grown as a result.
Yes, there will likely be more rough times ahead, and perhaps you’re going through some particularly difficult ones right now. So it’s good to remind yourself often of those times when you couldn’t see yourself making it through, and yet you did.
There’s really never any reason to doubt yourself, for each time the challenges seemed insurmountable, you made it through. And even more importantly, going forward, you will again.
From The Daily Motivator website at http://greatday.com/
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