Friday, July 20, 2018
Today's Gift
It is ironic that the one thing that all religions recognize as separating us from our Creator — our very self-consciousness — is also the one thing that divides us from our fellow creatures. —Annie Dillard
Getting outside of ourselves, moving beyond our own egos, opens the door to real communication with the people we'll meet today. We have to learn to look with loving appreciation into the soul of that person or child who stands before us. We have to practice being concerned with their needs before our own, and in time our concern will be genuine. The separation between us will exist no more.
This division from others, the barrier that keeps us apart, comes from our individual insecurities. We have grown accustomed to the quick comparisons of ourselves with those we meet. Either inferior or superior we determine them to be, and thus ourselves. Whatever gifts we have to offer each other are left unwrapped, at least for now.
Let's come together, truly together, with someone we've been holding off until now. We can trust that the people who have come into our lives are there by design. We are equal to them, and they to us. We need what they have to offer us, and their growth needs our gifts, too.
I will appreciate the design of my life today. I will draw myself close to the day.
From Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women by Karen Casey ©
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
Many of us used a "know it all" act to keep people away. We kept everyone around us on edge. They were afraid of our judgments, just we were secretly afraid of theirs. Why were we so busy with everyone else's life? So we didn't have to look at our own! We were afraid of what was happening to us. But we didn't want to see how sick we were becoming. Now we're not afraid. We don't need to keep people away. We don't need to run their lives. We have our life to live. And we're enjoying it.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, You are the expert, not me. Teach me. I am Your student.
Action for the Day: Today, I'll list the ways I chased away those who cared about me.. I'll work on the Steps on these items for the next week.
From: Bluidkiti's Alcohol and Drug Addictions Recovery Help/Support Forums Daily Recovery Readings - http://www.bluidkiti.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2
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One Day At A Time
Frothy emotional appeal seldom suffices. The message which can
interest and hold these alcoholic people must have depth and weight.
In nearly all cases, their ideals must be grounded in a power greater than
themselves, if they are to re-create their lives.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. xxviii
Thought to Ponder
The Twelve Steps -- a manuscript for rational living.
AA-related 'Alconym'
A B C = Acceptance, Belief, Change
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Daily Motivation
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
by Ralph Marston
You don’t have to let small annoyances grow into big anxieties. You don’t have to let small setbacks grow into a larger narrative of failure.
What just happened or failed to happen does not have to burden you going forward. Instead of allowing disruptions to stop you, let them give you fresh energy for taking action.
The world will throw obstacles and surprises in your path. Go ahead and live your intentions anyway.
When life hits you hard, carry on. When you encounter injustice, unfairness, resistance, weariness, carry on.
That is the best way forward because that is your own chosen way forward. It’s difficult at the time but in retrospect it is by far the easiest choice.
This day is too beautiful, too full of possibility to let it be ruined by what you can’t control or by your past mistakes. Focus not on what has gone wrong, but on what can now go right, and on what you must do to make it so.
You don’t have to let small annoyances grow into big anxieties. You don’t have to let small setbacks grow into a larger narrative of failure.
What just happened or failed to happen does not have to burden you going forward. Instead of allowing disruptions to stop you, let them give you fresh energy for taking action.
The world will throw obstacles and surprises in your path. Go ahead and live your intentions anyway.
When life hits you hard, carry on. When you encounter injustice, unfairness, resistance, weariness, carry on.
That is the best way forward because that is your own chosen way forward. It’s difficult at the time but in retrospect it is by far the easiest choice.
This day is too beautiful, too full of possibility to let it be ruined by what you can’t control or by your past mistakes. Focus not on what has gone wrong, but on what can now go right, and on what you must do to make it so.
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