Hurried and worried until we're buried
And there's no curtain call,
Life's a very funny proposition,
after all.
—George M. Cohan
Often, when we involve ourselves in a whirlwind of activities, plans, and expectations, we push ourselves so hard that we don't derive any satisfaction from success. We need to face our limitations. We can't do everything we want. Even when we can do a great deal, if we overextend ourselves, take on too much, we will not enjoy ourselves, and there is no reason not to enjoy our work.
Our activities are part of what we are. If we choose to live in a frantic hurry, worrying about the next moment instead of this one, we'll miss life entirely. Part of self-knowledge is learning to pace ourselves to our own speed, learning to set goals we can attain for each day. When we do this, we can say, "Now that I've completed this, I don't have to do one more thing to feel worthwhile."
Am I trying to do too much too fast?
From Today's Gift: Daily Meditations for Families ©
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Walk in Dry Places
Serenity
Avoiding emotional whirlpools
If we were rattling down a rough river, we would try to steer away from whirlpools and rocky rapids. Living each day requires the same alertness.
We're asking for trouble if we drift into malicious discussions about other people… even those who seem to deserve it. We're also sliding into rocky rapids if we get into supercharged arguments about political and religious issues.
How do we avoid touchy situations that can lead to violent arguments or terrible breakdowns in personal relationships? We can begin by recognizing that we're not on this earth to judge, manipulate, or control other people. We'll do well today to keep our own performance up to a good standard.
We can also respond correctly to people who seem hopelessly wrong. Borrowing an idea from one Twelve Step program, we can detach from such people with love, even if circumstances require continuing contact with them. At whatever cost, we must avoid emotional whirlpools and rocky rapids in life.
Action for the Day: Looking ahead at the things might happen today. I'll adjust my thinking for situations that could be troublesome or destructive. I will try especially hard to avoid trouble with my fellow workers.
Asking for Help
When I ask for help, I am helping someone else.
Whether it is getting a ride to a meeting or sending out an emotional S.O.S. call,
I am helping someone who helps me...
The process reveals a beautiful mosaic of people who are becoming my family
-- a family that loves me no matter what.
- The AA Grapevine, April, 2012
Thought to Ponder . . .
Simply asking for help seems to be a help in itself.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H E L P = Hope, Encouragement, Love, Patience.
Run toward the efforts
Stop assuming that effort is to be avoided. Effort is a wonderful and powerful thing, because it enables you to make a difference.
You have a fundamental, driving desire to matter, to make a significant difference. Effort is what gives you the opportunity to do that.
The obstacles, problems and challenges will demand great and sustained efforts from you. And through those efforts you can bring immense value to your world.
Your efforts have brought you to where you are today. The quality of your life is driven primarily by the quality and quantity of your efforts.
The necessity of effort is not a burden, but rather is a powerful opportunity. For it is through your efforts that you express and fulfill your most treasured purposes, desires and dreams.
Instead of fighting the efforts, embrace them and enthusiastically seek out many more. Run toward the efforts, and reap life’s most valuable and meaningful rewards.
— Ralph Marston
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