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Post Info TOPIC: Courage to Change 5/17/18


~*Service Worker*~

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Courage to Change 5/17/18


Good morning MIP.  Today's reading is about One Day at a Time.  There is a Chinese proverb that suggests, "When we talk of tomorrow, the gods laugh."  This is not because we are ridiculous thinking about tomorrow but rather because the future is unpredictable.

Al-Anon suggests it's OK to make plans, but that we cannot determine the results.  No amount of scheming about next week can control what will happen.  Not only do circumstances change, but so do we!

We can also shorten this slogan to one hour or minute at a time.  When we stay in the moment, hour or day, life begins to feel better and over time - precious.  We can feel we are and will be fine when we can concentrate on the here and now.

Today's Reminder --  My worst fears about tomorrow need not affect this day.  By letting them go, I am free to grow.  What bad habit can I change today?  What fear can I face?   What joy can I acknowledge?  What good fortune, no matter how modest, can I celebrate?  All I have is today.  Let me make today the most fully alive day I have ever experienced.

Today's Quote from the Bible --  "Do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will look after itself."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I came to recovery, I was never in the present.  I was either stuck in past events, words or actions or I was projecting what is/could come next.  I also was affected by this disease, so no matter which direction I looked, my attitudes and outlooks were negative and bleak.

Al-Anon gave me suggested tools to use, and One Day at a Time is an awesome gift.  Anytime I felt fear or worse raising up inside of me, my sponsor suggested I consider the day and what time it was, and then self-talk ---  "It is 6:31am on Thursday and I am sitting in my home writing a post ... I am safe and I am OK in this moment."  I practice this still and have probably done this millions of times since beginning my recovery journey.

Nothing is promised.  Everything I encounter, experience and enjoy is a gift.  Life is really very good when I consider what is instead of what I wish would be.  Al-Anon helps me stay present and grateful for having my needs met, and letting go of my wants.

Happy Thursday to one and all.  I have an entire day of playing with the little guys today and am really excited!  There is nothing like hanging out with little ones to witness the definition of One Day at a Time.  Enjoy your day all - (((Hugs))).



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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging.  Pause before assuming.  Pause before accusing.  Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret.  ~~~~  Lori Deschene

 

 



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Children make everything better. I've learnt a lot from my children since I started recovery. Detachment and letting go of co dependency are just two of the things. Where I used plan, look back ,look forward. I now notice I can't do that anymore. It makes it easier to say no and do what is right for me. I am terrible at saying no but I am learning.

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~*Service Worker*~

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I love today's reading. When I came to Al-Anon, I, too, was stuck in the past and dreaming of the future. It seemed like my life was passing me by because I was never really where I was. Taking things day-by-day, hour-by-hour, moment-by-moment really helped me to live life with appreciation, gratitude, wonder, and contentment.

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Skorpi

If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. - Lao Tzu



~*Service Worker*~

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Goood Morning IAH and Skorpi, I too can so identify with living in the future and past and found that.this simple tool has allowed me to appreciate the gifts of the present moment and to truly see the beauty in the world. It is my "GO to" slogan and one I suggest immediately to my sponsees. Gratitude lists and acceptance are also great
Have a lovely day and thanks for your service

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Betty

THE HIGHEST FORM OF WISDOM IS KINDNESS

Talmud


~*Service Worker*~

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Thanks to all above. I think the past was so painful, and I was so scared of the future, that the day I was in didn't count. I was so stuck in such fear, dread, regret, etc., that I couldn't imagine a very fine day and put all the quicksand out of my mind. But with program and ODAT I have learned a lot, and will continue to focus on this one moment I have, this morning, and maybe this afternoon, and try and be grateful for the good things in my life. I am very grateful for the changes program is teaching me. It's a brand new day, Lyne

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Lyne



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Hi everyone and thank you:)

Lyne, you took all the thoughts I had and put them down for me! I am grateful today. I'm going to put into practice the minute by minute more often until there's a shift in this!

Have a wonderful day!!!





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~*Service Worker*~

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"When I came to recovery, I was never in the present. I was either stuck in past events, words or actions or I was projecting what is/could come next."

THIS.

Each day I move further from that state of BEING.
And I have tools to help me when I slip back into old ways! Yippeeeeee!

Thank you for everyone's shares.

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"The wolf that thrives, is the one you feed." - Cherokee legend

"Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields... Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness."  Mary Oliver

 

 



~*Service Worker*~

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Thank you for your service, IAH, and all the ESH. ODAT, staying present, is something that was also foreign to me. Now this is something I am working towards because I see how much that helps, firstly and most acutely, with reducing anxiety, but it also has started to make sense to me in a more general way, because really I can't experience anything other than the present... So when avoid it, which I do quite a lot, though considerably less than before Alanon, I actually take away my life from myself. I'm grateful this is something I'm learning now.

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