The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I laughed when I first heard this. Then, before I knew it, it became the slogan I use every day.
I think there is a tendency to get used to the situation I am in. Like the frog that doesn't notice that the water around him is boiling - it gets hotter gradually and he doesn't jump out until he's burning.
This program has been like that for me. I live 3000 miles away from my primary qualifiers for this program, but every once in a while I'll go back to visit. And I can see where I came from when I do. That tendency to make mountains out of molehills, and to ignore the stuff in my life that is really important. Self-imposed alternative reality. It's so much more fun than real life...lol.
I was telling someone the other day about how pleasantly boring my life is. They laughed at me, but it's true. I get up in the morning, I exercise, I work, I read, I cook, I spend time with my family, play with the dog, hang out with friends, sleep a normal 8 hours. What the heck happened to me, I wonder. Me who never exercised, worked 16-18 hours a day, prided myself on being too busy to eat breakfast or lunch, never had time for a dog, let alone a relationship...and friends? Only if I could squeeze them in after work on a "light" day.
Two years of this program has really helped me turn my life around. Pleasantly boring it is. Visiting my family reminds me of the daily drama from which I've come, and Keep it Simple, Stupid is the mantra that got me out of it. I use it every day, and I rarely feel like that burning frog anymore. Very nice...
I love "KISS", and another variation, as my sponsor loves to remind me, is for us to:
"focus on the whats, not the whys".... A good litnus test for this is to ask ourselves a simple question - "if I knew the answer (to what I'm worrying about), would it really change anything??"
Take care
Tom
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"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"
"What you think of me is none of my business"
"If you knew the answer to what you are worrying about, would it REALLY change anything?"
My A and I were discussing the "boring life" the other nite. He says that sometimes life is so boring if he is not using. I think this is the fundamental problem. He gets used to manuevering thru life high. Just like we get used to manuevering thru uncooperative, incoherent people. I told him he sounds like the kids on summer vacation. "Mom, I'm Bored." My sister in law tells her kids that being bored is a sign of a lack of creativity! Why do we make it so difficult?? We could all accomplish so much more and enjoy it too if we just stay off the rocky road!
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In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip.- Daniel L. Reardon
You sound like you are doing well -great! I too love this slogan. I first heard it many yrs ago. I asked my art director a question about a piece of work I was doing, he pulled me back and made a kiss sound and used his hands in gesture - saying "kiss it" Me asking what the heck? He replied, just that -to keep it simple stupid. When in doubt, leave it out, sometimes less is more. Thank you for sharing this I love nice reminders. wishes, tea2
