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.
Today's reading is about the Slogan "THINK". The writer suggests that it caused confusion in the beginning as we are told through the ESH of others that our own stinking thinking often caused us problems in our daily life. The writers says clarity for this slogan came when he/she heard a child explain/restate a safety rule learned at school to another - Stop, Look, and Listen.
I believe the writer had an 'Aha' moment, and came to understand that Listen meant a bit more than open ears! He/she goes on to share that before we get into trouble, before we open our mouth to react or before we get lost in obsessive analysis of another person's behavior or worrying about the future or..................................................
We can instead Stop. Then we can Look at what is going on AND our role in it...And then we can Listen for spiritual guidance that will hopefully remind us that we have choices. We can choose to respond with healthy words and actions or we can choose to not respond.
So, when something unkind is said, we do not have to engage and argue. We can take a moment, and Stop. Look. Listen. We then may engage calmly in discussion or simply walk away! Yay for recovery and yay for choices.
The writer talks about consciously deciding to enter the discussion/argument or not. How empowering is that?
Today's reminder is all about today being a room that's never before been seen. We are reminded to cherish the seconds, minutes and hours we spend 'here' in this day. We are also reminded to Think before we speak and pray before we act.
From Alateen --- A Day at a Time - "The program helps me gain the freedom to make wise choices that are good for me. I choose to put that freedom to work in my life today."
What a great reading for me on this Friday. I have been fighting a hellova head-cold all week that may be more than a head-cold. I still don't feel well. What I know (thank you Al-Anon) about me is I can be far less patient and kind in my words when I do not get good rest and/or don't feel well. So - THINK - is a great slogan for me, just for today.
I do like how the daily reminds us that we do have choices. If/when we Stop...Look...Listen or Pause, we can empower ourselves in that moment to engage or not, discuss or not, walk away or not - such a gift that I didn't know existed before I got here.
My life goes much better when I work my program and leave all others to do 'their own thing'. I feel serene today in spite of my cold/whatever, and it's a by-product of working on me, one day at a time, through the blessed ESH from those who came before me.
TGIF everyone - Make it a great day!!
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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
Dear IAH Thanks for your service I know you have been not feeling well and do hope that possibly resting this weekend will help.
Accepting the fact that I have choices was huge for me I know in the beginning of my program work , I would sulk and say but I hate all my choices and want different ones That did not work so I accepted program and finally saw the great advantage of choices.
Loved the portion of today's reading that you reported as it reminded me about the slogan "think" . I see that I have learned how to stop look and listen before I react, or allow myself to get lost in obsessive analyzing of others behaviors. Then I can look at what is going on and my role in it, and lastly I can listen for spiritual guidance that will give me my options and my choices. .
