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 in Courage to Change is about living one day at a time. The author shares that they often with for infinite wisdom, to know what is coming, so they can know with confidence how to spend each moment of their lives. But then, they worry that they would spend their life running away from painful experiences instead of really living.
Living one day at a time, enjoying today for the gifts it brings and what it has to offer, and trusting that HP will prepare them for whatever comes tomorrow, allows the author to enjoy today.
Today's Quote: "Just for today, I Will try to live through this day only, and not tackle all my problems at once."
--------------
I can really identify with today's reading. I have spent too much time in my life thinking about things I wish I had done differently, and how I would have been able to handle certain situations better if I had known then what I know now. That lead me to a practice of over-calculating, over-thinking, over-planning each thing that I planned to do. I found myself living so far in the future, that I wasn't present for today, and what is more, since I wasn't present for today, I was not dealing with today's problems! I found that that is a sure way to make sure that all my hopes and dreams for the future wouldn't happen.
By practicing keeping my focus on today, living for today, enjoying what today has to offer and dealing with today's problems, I have slowly learned how to enjoy life again. I have even learned to adjust my plans. It seems that when I grow and allow myself to change, my ideas about future goals and plans change as well! I am thankful to AlAnon for helping me learn to live just for today, and to make choices that help me enjoy fully what today has to offer.
I hope you have a wonderful day!
__________________
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
Thank you for your service Skorpi. ODAT has taken much practice on my part. I spent much of my life living in the past, obsessively ruminating, and worrying about the future excessively. I never felt at peace or calm. Practicing the tools of this program, I can remind myself I only have today, I can't do anything about the past but learn from my mistakes, and the future isn't here. It is a huge relief to just take today, and deal with it. I can stop the noise in my head, and have a much better day, Lyne
I really needed this too .. it's right where I am today .. realizing I have So much going on lately I try to think of everything (to do) all at one time .. leaving me not wanting to do Anything .. need to make a to do list (for Just Today) realizing through this all the years I have heard about running .. the a's running etc .. I realize it's my 'mind' too that does the running (away from me) lol I tell it to do way too much in 'One day' .. thank you for sharing this ..
-- Edited by MeTwo2 on Wednesday 27th of September 2017 12:52:12 PM
-- Edited by MeTwo2 on Wednesday 27th of September 2017 12:52:58 PM
Thank you Skorpi for the daily and your service. Thanks to all above for your ESH and shares. I love the concept of One Day at a Time....when I first heard it I thought it was silly....who can not plan ahead? Well - what set me aside from more balanced people - I not only planned my actions/chores/etc., I projected the outcomes and because of living with this disease, those projections were less than positive most of the time.
So - once I understood that it's about being present, looking for the beauty and miracles of this day only and leaving tomorrow until then while using the past for growth vs. remorse - made sense to me....and what a game changer! When I remember to stay focused on this day only, I do feel more centered, more balanced and also more serene. Love the gift of ODaT!!
As with all things, it took tons of practice for me. I am really not a slow learner, I just had so many unhealthy habits that needing reprogramming! Progress not perfection is the goal I seek and I'm so grateful for the gift of recovery.
Make it a great day all - got little people sleeping over and softball games later. (((Hugs)))
__________________
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
Hi Skorpi Thanks for your service and your thoughts on this important topic. Living in the present moment took a great deal of practice and discipline on my part I saw how important it was to leave the past in the past and not project to the future and I was determined to live one day at a time Alanon presented the tools to help me to do just that . This was one principle that i embraced early on. So glad I did
Hello Skorpi, thank you for ESH on ODAT and for your service. I struggled staying in the day until I had a physical set back and had to start at one hour at a time and work back to one day. Today I am truly thankful to be blessed with another day and do my best to appreciate the people and places around me. Little things like being able to drive to the store, go for a leisurely walk with my dog or even make a meal were things I could not do two years ago so I am very grateful. Today I take nothing for granted because I don't know what is in the future and I don't want to bet my happiness on it. Happy to get there now ODAT. Keep Coming Back!
