Monday, February 25, 2019
Today's Gift
I have never for one instant seen clearly within myself. How then would you have me judge the deeds of others? —Maurice Maeterlinck
We have been given the job of getting to know ourselves and dealing with our own craziness. We aren't so good at it that we have spare time and energy left to make judgments about those around us. We are tempted to become absorbed in their behavior and choices, and it does feel like a welcome distraction from anxieties about ourselves. So we must learn to detach from the family members and friends that we are tempted to fix, or monitor, or judge.
Although we are very close, we are on separate paths in life. We were not born together, and we will not die together. We will make our family or our friendships and the world a little bit better by staying centered on our own sanity.
I pray for a clear separation between what is on my path in life and what is on someone else's path. Then we can make good bridges between us.
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
Once there was a little girl who was learning to walk. The trouble was, her mother wouldn't let her fall down. Every time she was about to fall, her mother would rush over and catch her.
It was hard to learn how to walk if she couldn't fall down, but the girl was too little to be able to tell her mother. Her mother thought she was taking care of her when in fact she was keeping her from learning to take care of herself. Letting her fall would have shown trust in the child, trust that she could get up. It would have taught her that she wasn't so fragile that she couldn't recover if she hurt herself.
We are all like this mother once in a while, protecting one another from important lessons in life. This doesn't mean we have to let someone get seriously hurt, but that we allow each other the freedom to learn and grow in individual ways.
Action for the Day: I will ask myself, "what will I be able to learn from my little stumbles today?"
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
Character-Building
But whenever we had to choose between character and comfort, the
character-building was lost in the dust of our chase after what we
thought was happiness. Seldom did we look at character-building as
something desirable in itself, something we would like to strive for whether
our instinctual needs were met or not. We never thought of making honesty,
tolerance, and true love of man and God the daily basis of living.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Seven) p. 72
Thought to Ponder
Character is what I am; reputation is what people think I am.
AA-related 'Alconym'
A A = Attitude Adjustment
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net)
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
by Ralph Marston
Though you never intend to make a mistake, it happens. When it does, the best thing you can do is accept it, admit it, and quickly make it right.
Denying your mistakes doesn’t make you look better. It just extends and prolongs the negative influence of those mistakes.
It’s nice to receive accolades for what you do. What’s much more valuable, though, is to be honestly told when you’re not living up to expectations.
Don’t let your ego get in the way of your effectiveness. Welcome criticism, welcome suggestions, welcome sincere feedback, and embrace the benefits.
The more fully you understand the impressions of others, the better you become at getting good things done. Willingly embrace your shortcomings, and you can transcend them.
Treasure the observations and insights of others, even if, especially if they are at odds with your own. Seek to see yourself through the eyes of others, and you’ll see countless ways to grow stronger.
Though you never intend to make a mistake, it happens. When it does, the best thing you can do is accept it, admit it, and quickly make it right.
Denying your mistakes doesn’t make you look better. It just extends and prolongs the negative influence of those mistakes.
It’s nice to receive accolades for what you do. What’s much more valuable, though, is to be honestly told when you’re not living up to expectations.
Don’t let your ego get in the way of your effectiveness. Welcome criticism, welcome suggestions, welcome sincere feedback, and embrace the benefits.
The more fully you understand the impressions of others, the better you become at getting good things done. Willingly embrace your shortcomings, and you can transcend them.
Treasure the observations and insights of others, even if, especially if they are at odds with your own. Seek to see yourself through the eyes of others, and you’ll see countless ways to grow stronger.
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